Study of optimal parameters of the H2O2/O3 method for the decomposition of acetic acid

•The decomposition path of acetic acid was experimentally investigated.•A simplified reaction model was built concerning the decomposition path.•The optimum ratio of the H2O2 supply rate to the O3 absorption rate was determined.•The main reaction path for each condition was revealed.

Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) constitute one of the most effective methods to decompose persistent organic pollutants in water using OH radicals. In this study, the parameters of the H2O2/O3 method in the decomposition of acetic acid were investigated through a combination of experiments and numerical simulations. A simplified reaction model was built based on the analysis of the decomposition path. The simulation results showed that effective treatment of acetic acid can be achieved when the H2O2 supply rate is half of the O3 absorption rate as one H2O2 and two O3 molecules are necessary to produce two OH radicals.