INVESTIGATIONS ON CLASSIC FENTON REACTION AS A SIMPLE INEXPENSIVE TECHNIQUE FOR THE REMOVAL OF TOXIC CHEMICAL POLLUTANTS FROM WATER

P.V Gayathri; Suguna Yesodharan; E.P. Yesodharan

Volume : VI, Issue : VIII, August - 2016

INVESTIGATIONS ON CLASSIC FENTON REACTION AS A SIMPLE INEXPENSIVE TECHNIQUE FOR THE REMOVAL OF TOXIC CHEMICAL POLLUTANTS FROM WATER

P. V Gayathri, Suguna Yesodharan, E. P. Yesodharan

Abstract :

The classic Fenton reaction involving the interaction between Fe2+ and H2O2 generating reactive .OH radicals is investigated as a potential tool for the removal of toxic dye pollutant rhodamine B from water. The efficiency of the process depends on reaction parameters such as pH, concentration of the reagent, relative ratio of Fe2+ and H2O2, concentration of pollutants etc. Anions such as CO32–, HCO3–, Cl– ,PO43– and NO3– influence the rate of degradation differently varying from inhibition to moderate enhancement. Persulphate, which is a strong oxidant in many advanced oxidation processes does not have any effect on the Fenton process while semiconductor oxide ZnO inhibits the degradation. An important finding of the study is that the Fe2+ of the Fenton reagent can be recycled many times by replenishing the consumed H2O2. This will address one of the major drawbacks of the Fenton process, i.e. accumulation of Fe2+ /Fe3+ from the used reagent in the environment.