Effect of oxidant addition on the elimination of 2-naphthalenesulfonate in aqueous solutions by electron beam irradiation

• Published in: Radiation physics and chemistry (Oxford, England : 1993) England : 1993), 2016-09, Vol.126, p.95-102
• Main Authors: Alkhuraiji, Turki S., Karpel Vel Leitner, Nathalie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aqueous solutions; Chemical Sciences; Derivatives; Electron beam; Electron beams; Hydrogen peroxide; Irradiation; Mineralization; Naphthalenesulfonate; Oxidants; Oxidizing agents; Persulfate ion; Transformation products; Transformations
• ISSN: 0969-806X; 1879-0895
• DOI: 10.1016/j.radphyschem.2016.05.016

Aromatic sulfonated compounds and naphthalene derivatives are major chemical compounds used in the industry. Electron beam irradiation of aqueous solutions of 2-naphthalenesulfonate (90µM) was investigated under various experimental conditions. The results obtained demonstrate that the 2-NS concentration decreased dramatically on increasing the absorbed dose in the range 0–1000Gy. The effectiveness of the radiolytic system was demonstrably enhanced by the addition of oxidants (S2O82− or H2O2). 2-NS removal was higher with S2O82− than with H2O2. For the EB, EB/H2O2, and EB/S2O82− systems, the absorbed doses for 90% elimination of 2-NS (D90) were 700, 480, and 274Gy, respectively. 2-NS is poorly mineralized by EB but more than 35% mineralization was reached for 15kGy when oxidants (820µMS2O82− or 935µM H2O2) were added. In all systems, the mineralization yield was markedly higher when air (i.e. dissolved oxygen increase) was introduced between successive doses. For 50% 2-NS removal, seven sulfonated transformation products were identified using LC/MS analyses. For the highest absorbed doses the sulfonate group in 2-NS was converted to sulfate ions in the radiolytic systems. •2-NS in aqueous solutions can be easily degraded by electron beam (EB) irradiation.•Dissolved oxygen addition effectively enhances TOC elimination during EB irradiation.•EB irradiation along with oxidant addition (H2O2 or S2O82-) enhances treatment efficiency.•The sulfonate group of 2-NS can be totally mineralized into sulfate ion.•Organic transformation products with substituted aromatic structures were identified.