Application of intensified Fenton oxidation to the treatment of sawmill wastewater

- The intensified Fenton process represents a cost-effective alternative for sawmill wastewater treatment.
- Increasing temperature to 120 °C and feeding H2O2 in 3 additions improved the H2O2 consumption efficiency.
- High COD (≈80%) and TOC (≈70%) removal were achieved after 1 h reaction time.
- Fungicides were completely removed obtaining short-chain organic acids as main products.

The application of the Fenton process for the treatment of sawmill wastewater has been investigated. The sawmill wastewater was characterized by a moderate COD load (≈3 g L−1), high ecotoxicity (≈40 toxicity units) and almost negligible BOD/COD ratio (5 × 10−3) due to the presence of different fungicides such as propiconazole and 3-iodo-2-propynyl butyl carbamate, being the wastewater classified as non-biodegradable. The effect of the key Fenton variables (temperature (50-120 °C), catalyst concentration (25-100 mg L−1 Fe3+), H2O2 dose (1 and 2 times the stoichiometric dose) and the mode of H2O2 addition) on COD reduction and mineralization was investigated in order to fulfill the allowable local limits for industrial wastewater discharge and achieve an efficient consumption of H2O2 in short reaction times (1 h). Increasing the temperature clearly improved the oxidation rate and mineralization degree, achieving 60% COD reduction and 50% mineralization at 120 °C after 1 h with the stoichiometric H2O2 dose and 25 mg L−1 Fe3+. The distribution of H2O2 in multiple additions throughout the reaction time was clearly beneficial avoiding competitive scavenging reactions and thus, achieving higher efficiencies of H2O2 consumption (XCOD ≈ 80%). The main by-products were non-toxic short-chain organic acids (acetic, oxalic and formic). Thus, the application of the Fenton process allowed reaching the local limits for industrial wastewater discharge into local sewer system at a relatively low cost.