Degradation of 1,4-dioxane using advanced oxidation processes

Chitra, Sengadir; Paramasivan, Kanapathy; Cheralathan, Mayilsamy; Sinha, Pradeep Kumar

Degradation of 1,4-dioxane using advanced oxidation processes

2012

Chitra, Sengadir | Paramasivan, Kanapathy | Cheralathan, Mayilsamy | Sinha, Pradeep Kumar

INTRODUCTION: In the nuclear industry 1,4-dioxane is used as a solvent in liquid scintillation technique for measuring low-energy beta-emitters such as 3H or C14 in aqueous media. Improper disposal of 1,4-dioxane can contaminate the ground and surface waters. Conventional wastewater treatment processes like chemical treatment, air stripping, carbon adsorption, and biological treatment are ineffective for the degradation of 1,4-dioxane. METHODS: In the present study, the kinetics of degradation of 1,4-dioxane using advanced oxidation processes viz., H2O2 alone, Fe(II) + H2O2, UV (15 W) + H2O2, UV (15 W) + Fe(II) + H2O2, US (130 KHz) + Fe(II) + H2O2, and sunlight + Fe(II) + H2O2 at pH 3.0 was investigated. The optimization of Fe (II) for the processes using Fe (II) + H2O2 was carried out. CONCLUSIONS: The kinetics of degradation using sunlight + Fe (II) + H2O2 was found to be fastest when compared to the other processes. The degradation was found to follow first-order kinetics. Formation of acidic intermediates was suspected from the observed pH changes during the degradation processes.

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