In this paper the photocatalytic degradation of the 0.2 mM ibuprofen (2-(4-(2-methylpropyl)phenyl)propanoic acid) in aqueous solution (pH 3) has been carried out by the homogeneous photocatalysis (photo-Fenton) process. This method consists of coupling Fenton’s reagent and UV-C irradiation in order to catalyse the in situ generation of hydroxyl radicals, a powerful oxidizing agent which leads to degradation of organic pollutants until total mineralization. The effect of H2O2 and Fe 3+ (catalyst) concentration on the TOC removal has been examined and the performances of photo-Fenton process have been also compared with other photochemical processes such as direct photolysis (UV alone) and H2O2 photolysis (H2O2/UV). The results have shown that the photo-Fenton process appeared more effective than the other systems studied and the TOC removal decreased in the sequence: photo Fenton > H2O2/UV > UV alone. The kinetics study showed that the TOC removal follows the second-order kinetics. It was found that the concentrations of H2O2and ferric iron constitute key factors governing the TOC removal and that the optimal concentrations are equal to 10 mM of H2O2and 0.25 mM Fe 3+ . In these conditions, 96% of initial TOC has been removed after 8 h of irradiation time.

Removal of the anti-inflammatory drug ibuprofen from water using homogeneous photocatalysis

PANIZZA, MARCO;
2014-01-01

Abstract

In this paper the photocatalytic degradation of the 0.2 mM ibuprofen (2-(4-(2-methylpropyl)phenyl)propanoic acid) in aqueous solution (pH 3) has been carried out by the homogeneous photocatalysis (photo-Fenton) process. This method consists of coupling Fenton’s reagent and UV-C irradiation in order to catalyse the in situ generation of hydroxyl radicals, a powerful oxidizing agent which leads to degradation of organic pollutants until total mineralization. The effect of H2O2 and Fe 3+ (catalyst) concentration on the TOC removal has been examined and the performances of photo-Fenton process have been also compared with other photochemical processes such as direct photolysis (UV alone) and H2O2 photolysis (H2O2/UV). The results have shown that the photo-Fenton process appeared more effective than the other systems studied and the TOC removal decreased in the sequence: photo Fenton > H2O2/UV > UV alone. The kinetics study showed that the TOC removal follows the second-order kinetics. It was found that the concentrations of H2O2and ferric iron constitute key factors governing the TOC removal and that the optimal concentrations are equal to 10 mM of H2O2and 0.25 mM Fe 3+ . In these conditions, 96% of initial TOC has been removed after 8 h of irradiation time.
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11567/770192
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 41
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 34
social impact