Degradation of estrone in aqueous solution by photo-Fenton system

Photodegradation of estrone (E1) in aqueous solutions by UV-VIS/Fe(III)/H2O2 system (photo-Fenton system) was preliminarily investigated under a 250-W metal halide lamp (λ≥313 nm). The influences such as initial pH value, initial concentration of Fe(III), H2O2 and E1 on degradation efficiency of E1 were discussed in detail. The results indicated that E1 could be decomposed efficiently in UV-VIS/Fe(III)/H2O2 system. After 160-min irradiation, the photodegradation efficiency of 18.5 μmol L−1 E1 reached 98.4% in the solution containing 20.8 μmol L−1 Fe(III), and 1664 μmol L−1 H2O2 at initial pH value 3.0. The degradation efficiencies of E1 were dependent on initial pH value, Fe (III) concentration and H2O2 concentration. The degradation of four estrogens estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2) and diethylstibestrol (DES) in UV-VIS/Fe(III)/H2O2 system were also conducted. Under the conditions of pH 3.0, the E1 apparent kinetics equation −dCE1/dt=0.00093[H2O2]0.47[Fe(III)]0.63[E1]0.24 (r=0.9935, n=11) was obtained. The E1 mineralization efficiency was lower than degradation efficiency under the same conditions, which implied the mineralization occurred probably only at aromatic ring. There are several intermediate products produced during the course of E1 degradation. The comparison of the degradation efficiencies of E1, E2, EE2 and DES degradation in UV-VIS/Fe(III)/H2O2 system were also conducted, and the relative degradability among different estrogens were followed the sequence: DES>E2>EE2>E1.