skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Oxidation of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons in water. 3: UV radiation combined with hydrogen peroxide

Journal Article · · Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ie950363l· OSTI ID:225465
;  [1];  [2]
  1. Univ. de Extremadura, Badajoz (Spain). Dept. de Ingenieria Quimica y Energetica
  2. Univ. Complutense, Madrid (Spain). Dept. de Ingenieria Quimica

Oxidation in water of three polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), fluorene, phenanthrene, and acenaphthene, with UV radiation combined with hydrogen peroxide has been studied. The effect of hydrogen peroxide concentration, pH, and bicarbonate ion has been investigated. Disappearance rates of PAHs are substantially increased with respect to those from UV radiation alone if proper conditions of hydrogen peroxide concentration and pH are established. Direct photolysis contribution decreases with the increasing hydrogen peroxide concentration and is the main way of degradation at acid pH (76% at pH 2 with 10{sup {minus}3} M hydrogen peroxide concentration, for fluorene oxidation). Rate constants of reactions between the hydroxyl radical and PAHs were found to be 9.9 {times} 10{sup 9}, 8.8 {times} 10{sup 9}, and 13.4 {times} 10{sup 9} M{sup {minus}1} s{sup {minus}1}, for fluorene, acenaphthene, and phenanthrene, respectively. Both UV radiation and UV/H{sub 2}O{sub 2} oxidation of PAHs yield numerous intermediate compounds. Most of these compounds disappear as oxidation time is increased.

OSTI ID:
225465
Journal Information:
Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, Vol. 35, Issue 3; Other Information: PBD: Mar 1996
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English