Investigation of Photochemical Oxidation Efficiency Process Using H2O2 (UV/ H2O2) in Mineralization of 4-Chlorophenol IN Aqueous Environment

Introduction and purpose: Chlorophenol is known as one of the toxic and dangerous pollutants in industrial wastewaters that’s a essential to it’s removal from industrial wastewaters and ground waters. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficiency of 4-Chlorophenol (4-CP) degradation using Ultraviolet/Hydrogen Peroxide process (UV/H2O2). The variables of the present study included initial concentration of pollutant, contact time, pH, and H2O2 concentration on 4-Chlorophenol removal on a laboratory scale. The concentration of residual 4-Chlorophenol was determined using UV/Visible at a wavelength of 280nm. In addition, the amount of mineralization in optimal conditions was evaluated using the measurement of total organic carbon (TOC) removal range according to the standard method 5310- B. Synthetic models of the process were also investigated. The optimum removal efficiency of 4-CP by UV/H2O2 process regarding the concentration of hydrogen peroxide was 580 mg/L. pH of 3 and initial 4-CP concentration was obtained as 380 mg/L, and the presence of UV rays with a wavelength of 254 nm during 30m contact was 84.92% . In addition, 84.69% of the TOC was removed under the optimal condition. Moreover ,it was found that the data followed the first-order synthetic models. Considering the growing use of UV radiation in water treatment processes and the considerable efficiency of UV/ H2O2 process in removing 4-CP, this method can be proposed for the elimination of 4-CP after performing cost-benefit analyses. It can be concluded that with regard to purification goals and standards for wastewater treatment, UV/ H2O2 process can be used as a pre or final treatment.