Process enhancement at near neutral pH of a homogeneous photo-Fenton reaction using ferricarboxylate complexes: Application to oxytetracycline degradation

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2014

Authors

João H. O. S. Pereira (Author) FEUP; Daniel B. Queirós (Author) FEUP; Ana C. Reis (Author) FEUP; Olga C. Nunes (Author) FEUP; Maria T. Borges (Author) FCUP; Rui A. R. Boaventura (Author) FEUP; Vítor J. P. Vilar (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Chemical Engineering Journal

Vol. 253

Pages: 217-228

ISSN: 1385-8947

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 75 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 82 Citations

INSPEC

Scientific classification

FOS: Engineering and technology > Chemical engineering

CORDIS: Technological sciences > Technology > Environmental technology

Associated Projects

PTDC/AAC-AMB/113091/2009 - Eliminação de micropoluentes com actividade antimicrobiana de águas residuais

LA 20 - PROJECTO ESTRATÉGICO - LA 20 - 2013-2014

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-009-HC2

DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2014.05.037

Abstract (EN): This work demonstrates the application at near neutral pH of a photo-Fenton reaction mediated by ferricarboxylates on the treatment of aqueous solutions containing the antibiotic Oxytetracycline (OTC) under solar irradiation. The formation of a Fe:OTC complex after Fe2+ oxidation to Fe3+, in the presence of H2O2, showed the inconvenience of using the conventional Fe2+/H2O2/UV-Vis process at near neutral pH levels, as the complex is retained in the filter. To overcome this, a Fe3+/Oxalate/UV-Vis or Fe3+/Citrate/H2O2/UV-Vis process was proposed. The higher tendency of Fe3+ to form complexes with carboxylates avoids the formation of Fe:OTC complexes and allows for proper OTC detection along reaction times. The photo-Fenton process itself is improved by the extension of the iron solubility to higher and more practical pH values, by the increase of the quantum yield of Fe2+ production and by presenting stronger radiation absorption at wavelengths up to 580 nm. In this way, process efficiency was evaluated for different variables such as Fe3+ concentration, pH, temperature and irradiance, using a compound parabolic collector (CPC) photoreactor at lab-scale under simulated solar radiation. Reaction rates were compared in the presence of different inorganic anions and humic acids, and in two different real wastewater matrixes. Results obtained in a CPC pilot-scale plant under natural solar light, using an iron/oxalate molar ratio

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 12