Treatment of coking wastewater by an advanced Fenton oxidation process using iron powder and hydrogen peroxide

In this study the treatment of coking wastewater was investigated by an advanced Fenton oxidation process using iron powder and hydrogen peroxide. Particular attention was paid to the effect of initial pH, dosage of H2O2 and to improvement in biodegradation. The results showed that higher COD and total phenol removal rates were achieved with a decrease in initial pH and an increase in H2O2 dosage. At an initial pH of less than 6.5 and H2O2 concentration of 0.3 M, COD removal reached 44–50% and approximately 95% of total phenol removal was achieved at a reaction time of 1 h. The oxygen uptake rate of the effluent measured at a reaction time of 1 h increased by approximately 65% compared to that of the raw coking wastewater. This indicated that biodegradation of the coking wastewater was significantly improved. Several organic compounds, including bifuran, quinoline, resorcinol and benzofuranol were removed completely as determined by GC–MS analysis. The advanced Fenton oxidation process is an effective pretreatment method for the removal of organic pollutants from coking wastewater. This process increases biodegradation, and may be combined with a classical biological process to achieve effluent of high quality.

► The coking wastewater was treated by an advanced Fenton oxidation process using iron powder and hydrogen peroxide.
► The biodegradability of the coking wastewater was significantly improved.
► The advanced Fenton process is an effective pretreatment method for removing organic pollutants from coking wastewater.