Study of Photo-Fenton Process for Treatment of Pharmaceuticals: Kinetic Modeling and Optimization

Abstract

The scientific community's interest in the study of micropollutants is very recent and increases every day, since these chemicals cause important changes in the environment, affecting the health of animals and humans. It is important to provide techniques capable of degrading these compounds such as the advanced oxidation processes. The present work aims to propose a kinetic model (based on the mineralization of TOC) for the treatment of aqueous solutions with: acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), diclofenac and paracetamol. The analysis of the total organic carbon showed a conversion of 84.84% by combining UV/H2O2. The kinetic model was developed to UV/H2O2 process. The kinetic model adopted to describe the profile of the concentration of residual TOC was grouped into two groups (refractory and non refractory compounds) and achieved satisfactorily represent the profile of the residual fraction of the organic compounds analyzed. For the type described a linear, regression was performed on the basis ofexperimental data obtaining a R2 value equal to 0.97874.