Advanced oxidation processes for treatment of effluents from a detergent industry

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2011

Authors

Martins, RC (Author) Other; Silva, Adrian (Author) FEUP; Castro Silva, S (Author) Other; Garcao Nunes, P (Author) Other; Quinta Ferreira, RM (Author) Other

Journal

Title: ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY

Vol. 32

Pages: 1031-1041

ISSN: 0959-3330

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 21 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 29 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-002-YD8

DOI: 10.1080/09593330.2010.523439

Abstract (EN): Ozonation, catalytic ozonation, Fenton's and heterogeneous Fenton-like processes were investigated as possible pretreatments of a low biodegradable and highly toxic wastewater produced by a detergent industry. The presence of a Mn-Ce-O catalyst in ozonation enhances the biodegradability and improves the degradation at low pH values. However, a high content of carbonyl compounds adsorbed on the recovered solid indicates some limitations for real-scale application. A commercial Fe2O3-MnOx catalyst shows higher activity as well as higher stability concerning carbon adsorption, but the leaching of metals is larger than for Mn-Ce-O. Regarding the heterogeneous Fenton-like route with an Fe-Ce-O catalyst, even though a high activity and stability are attained, the intermediates are less biodegradable than the original compounds, indicating that the resulting effluent cannot be conducted to an activated sludge post-treatment. The highest enhancement of effluent biodegradability is obtained with the classic homogeneous Fenton's process, with the BOD5/COD ratio increasing from 0.32 to 0.80. This process was scaled up and the treated effluent is now safely directed to a municipal wastewater treatment plant.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 11