Treatment of TFT-LCD wastewater containing ethanolamine by fluidized-bed Fenton technology

The objectives of this study are: (1) to determine the effect of pH, initial concentration of Fe2+ and H2O2 dosage on the removal efficiency of MEA by fluidized-bed Fenton process and Fenton process, (2) to determine the optimal conditions for the degradation of ethanolamine from TFT-LCD wastewater by fluidized-bed Fenton process. In the design of experiment, the Box–Behnken design was used to optimize the operating conditions. A removal efficiency of 98.9% for 5 mM MEA was achieved after 2 h under optimal conditions of pH 3, [Fe2+] = 5 mM and [H2O2] = 60 mM.

► Ethanolamine (MEA) is the main component of TFT-LCD wastewater.
► Removal efficiency of 98.9% for 5 mM MEA at 2 h.
► Optimal conditions: pH 3, [Fe2+] = 5 mM and [H2O2] = 60 mM.
► Box–Behnken design used to optimize the operating conditions.