Kinetics of phenol mineralization by Fenton-like oxidation

The kinetics of hydrogen peroxide decomposition and the mineralization rate of phenol in homogeneous aqueous solution (pH < 3) via Fenton-like reaction were studied. Results were correlated with the generation of hydroxyl radicals as well as with iron speciation. Batch experiments were carried out in de-ionized water in a completely mixed batch reactor under a wide range of experimental conditions (3500 ≤ [H2O2] ≤ 8250 mg/L; 100 mg/L ≤ [Fe] ≤ 2350 mg/L; 2.5 ≤ [H2O2]/[Fe] ≤ 83; 0 mg/L ≤ [TOC] ≤ 1000 mg/L). Results demonstrated that the rate of hydrogen peroxide decomposition, phenol mineralization and ferrous ions formation depended on both the initial concentration of the phenol and on the weight ratio between hydrogen peroxide and iron. A linear correlation was found between the mineralization rate of phenol and the decomposition rate of hydrogen peroxide indicated that 10 g of hydrogen peroxide was required to mineralize 1 g of phenol.