Rapid decolorization and mineralization of simulated textile wastewater in a heterogeneous Fenton like system with/without external energy

A novel Fenton like system, employing Zero Valent Iron (ZVI) and air bubbling, was developed to treat a simulated textile wastewater containing azo dye Reactive Black 5 (RB5) and Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). By dioxygen activation, H2O2 was self-produced continuously in the system through a series of iron-EDTA ligands reactions. After 3 h reaction, the removal rates of RB5, EDTA, Total Organic Carbon (TOC), and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) were 100%, 96.5%, 68.6% and 92.2%, respectively. The effects of pH, atmosphere as well as the initial concentration of RB5, EDTA and ZVI were also investigated. Two types of external energy-Ultrasound (US) and Ultraviolet (UV) were introduced into the Fenton like system, respectively. The effect of these external energies on the degradation of the wastewater was assessed. It was demonstrated that US presented significant synergistic effect on the degradation and mineralization of both RB5 and EDTA, while UV could not achieve any improvement.