Solar photo-Fenton mineralization of antipyrine in aqueous solution

• Published in: Journal of environmental management 2013-11, Vol.130, p.64-71
• Main Authors: Durán, A., Monteagudo, J.M., Sanmartín, I., Carrasco, A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Antipyrine; Antipyrine - chemistry; Antipyrine - radiation effects; Applied ecology; Aqueous solutions; Biological and medical sciences; catalysts; Catalytic oxidation; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Emerging contaminant; energy; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; hydrogen peroxide; iron; mineralization; Neural Networks (Computer); Oxalates - chemistry; oxalic acid; Oxidants, Photochemical; oxidation; Oxidation-Reduction; Pharmaceuticals; Pilot Projects; Solar radiation; synergism; TOC; Ultraviolet radiation; Ultraviolet Rays; Water Pollutants, Chemical - chemistry; Water Pollutants, Chemical - radiation effects; Water Pollution - analysis; Water Pollution - prevention & control; Water Purification - methods
• ISSN: 0301-4797; 1095-8630
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2013.08.043

The mineralization of an aqueous solution of antipyrine (C11H12N2O), an emerging contaminant, using a solar photocatalytic oxidation process assisted with ferrioxalate was evaluated in a compound parabolic collector (CPC) pilot plant. Under the selected operating conditions ([H2O2] = 250 ppm, [Fe] = 14 ppm, pH = 2.7, and [(COOH)2·2H2O] = 80 ppm), 60% of TOC is removed just 5 min after treating an aqueous solution containing 50 ppm of antipyrine. The addition of oxalic acid up to a maximum concentration of 80 ppm significantly increases the mineralization rate during the first 15 min of the reaction. The synergism between the solar and dark H2O2/ferrioxalate process was quantified at 79%, calculated from the pseudo first-order mineralization rate constants. The operational costs due to the consumption of electrical energy, reagents and catalysts were calculated from the optimal conditions and compared with a novel sono-photocatalytic process using artificial UV-light. The results showed that the ferrioxalate-assisted solar photo-Fenton process was economically feasible, being able to achieve up to 60% mineralization with a total cost of 4.5 cent €/g TOC removed (1.1 €/m3). •The solar/H2O2/Ferrioxalate process is efficient for mineralizing antipyrine.•Under selected operating conditions, 60% of TOC is removed after 5 min.•Addition of oxalic acid increases TOC removal in the first minutes from 26 to 60%.•The synergism between the solar and the H2O2/Ferrioxalate process was 79%.•The operating cost in a solar CPC pilot plant is 4.5 cent €/g TOC removed (1.1 €/m3).