A new methodology to assess the performance of AOPs in complex samples: Application to the degradation of phenolic compounds by O 3 and O 3 /UV-A-Vis

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) 2019-05, Vol.222, p.114
• Main Authors: García-Ballesteros, S, Mora, M, Vicente, R, Vercher, R F, Sabater, C, Castillo, M A, Amat, A M, Arques, A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.01.015

A methodology combining experimental design methodology, liquid chromatography, excitation emission matrixes (EEM) and bioassays has been applied to study the performance of O and O /UVA-vis in the treatment of a mixture of eight phenolic pollutants. An experimental design methodology based on Doehlert matrixes was employed to determine the effect of pH (between 3 and 12), ozone dosage (02-1.0 g/h) and initial concentration of the pollutants (1-6 mg/L each). The following conclusions were obtained: a) acidic pH and low O dosage resulted in an inefficient process, b) increasing pH and O amount produced an enhancement of the reaction, and c) interaction of basic pH and high amounts of ozone decreased the efficiency of the process. The combination of O /UVA-vis was able to enhance ozonation in those experimental regions were this reagent was less efficient, namely low pH and low ozone dosages. The application of EEM-PARAFAC showed four components, corresponding to the parent pollutants and three different groups of reaction product and its evolution with time. Bioassys indicated important detoxification (from 100% to less than 30% after 1 min of treatment with initial pollutant concentration of 6 mg/L, pH = 9 and ozone dosage of 0.8 g/h) according to the studied methods (D. magna and P. subcapitata). Also estrogenic activity and dioxin-like behavior were significantly decreased.