Degradation of sulphamethazine by means of an improved photo-Fenton process involving a hydrogen peroxide systematic dosage.

Degradation of sulphamethazine by means of an improved photo-Fenton process involving a hydrogen peroxide systematic dosage.

Environmental technology (2014-06-25)

Evelyn Yamal-Turbay, Lydia Pérez González, Moisès Graells, Montserrat Pérez-Moya

ABSTRACT

Despite being acknowledged as an emerging contaminant, sulphamethazine (SMT) degradation has received scarce attention in the advanced oxidation processes field. Thus, this work addresses the degradation of SMT in water solutions (12 L of 25mgL-1 samples) by means of a photo-Fenton process and a systematic H202 dosage protocol that enhances its performance. A conventional photo-Fenton process led to 86% mineralization after 120 min treatment when adding the Fenton reactants at once (initial concentrations were 10mgL-1 Fe(II) and 200mgL-1 H2O2). Conversely, the process achieved the total mineralization of the samples in less than 75 min when the same amount of H202 was continuously dosed according to a conveniently tuned dosage protocol. In both cases, total SMT degradation was achieved within 10 min. Hence, this work's aim is to determine the efficient dosage conditions of H2O2. The results show that a significant improvement of the photo-Fenton mineralization of SMT solutions is possible by adjusting the dosage of H2O2.

MATERIALS

Product Number

Brand

Product Description

13-1920

Sigma-Aldrich

Hydrogen peroxide solution, SAJ first grade, ≥30.0%

209309

Sigma-Aldrich

Iron, powder, −325 mesh, 97%

H1009

Sigma-Aldrich

Hydrogen peroxide solution, 30 % (w/w) in H₂O, contains stabilizer

95321

Supelco

Hydrogen peroxide solution, ≥30%, for trace analysis

46802

Supelco

Sulfamethazine, VETRANAL^®, analytical standard

95294

Sigma-Aldrich

Hydrogen peroxide solution, tested according to Ph. Eur.

356808

Sigma-Aldrich

Iron, foil, thickness 0.1 mm, ≥99.9% trace metals basis

316989

Sigma-Aldrich

Hydrogen peroxide solution, contains potassium stannate as inhibitor, 30-32 wt. % in water, semiconductor grade, 99.999% trace metals basis

18304

Sigma-Aldrich

Hydrogen peroxide solution, 34.5-36.5%

IRMM524B

Iron, IRMM^®, certified reference material, 0.5 mm wire

88597

Millipore

Hydrogen peroxide solution, 3%, suitable for microbiology

16911

Supelco

Hydrogen peroxide solution, 30 % (w/w), for ultratrace analysis

323381

Sigma-Aldrich

Hydrogen peroxide solution, contains ~200 ppm acetanilide as stabilizer, 3 wt. % in H₂O

H3410

Sigma-Aldrich

Hydrogen peroxide solution, contains inhibitor, 30 wt. % in H₂O, meets USP testing specifications

516813

Sigma-Aldrich

Hydrogen peroxide solution, 50 wt. % in H₂O, stabilized

S6256

Sigma-Aldrich

Sulfamethazine, 99.0-101.0% (on dried basis)

267945

Sigma-Aldrich

Iron, chips, 99.98% trace metals basis

44890

Sigma-Aldrich

Iron, puriss. p.a., carbonyl-Iron powder, low in magnesium and manganese compounds, ≥99.5% (RT)

GF83304828

Iron, tube, 1000mm, outside diameter 25.0mm, inside diameter 21mm, wall thickness 2mm, annealed, 99.5%

GF02617657

Iron, wire reel, 1000m, diameter 0.125mm, hard, 99.5%

GF04520450

Iron, foil, 10mm disks, thickness 0.125mm, as rolled, 99.99+%

GF56837649

Iron, foil, 10mm disks, thickness 0.125mm, hard, 99.5%

GF77375672

Iron, foil, 25mm disks, thickness 0.005mm, 99.85%

GF04705916

Iron, foil, 15mm disks, thickness 0.125mm, hard, 99.5%

GF04257772

Iron, foil, 15mm disks, thickness 0.006mm, 99.85%

GF40254656

Iron, foil, 25mm disks, thickness 0.004mm, 99.85%

GF97661728

Iron, foil, 15mm disks, thickness 0.5mm, hard, 99.5%

GF16926385

Iron, foil, 15mm disks, thickness 0.25mm, hard, 99.5%

GF56935604

Iron, foil, 10mm disks, thickness 0.15mm, hard, 99.5%

GF86771953

Iron, foil, 1m coil, thickness 0.38mm, hard, 99.5%