A Comparative Study of Photo-Degradation of Atrazine in Aquatic Environments Using UV and UV/Fe (III)-TiO2 Processes

A vast variety of pesticides are used for agricultural pests in Iran. The release of these persistent organic pollutants into water supplies leaves adverse effects on both the environment and public health. This study aimed to compare the photo-degradation of atrazine in the aquatic environment using UV and UV/Fe (III)-TiO2 processes. The effects of parameters including pH, the initial concentration of atrazine, and reaction time on the removal of atrazine in the aqueous phase using ultraviolet radiation (1020 μW/cm2 ) and UV/Fe (III)-TiO2 were investigated. Residual concentrations were determined using HPLC. Finally, the data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 16) and the graph was made by MATLAB software. The results demonstrated that the atrazine removal rate in both processes was significantly increased in acidic and alkaline conditions. By increasing initial atrazine concentrations, the removal rate was increased in both processes as well. Data showed that at the lower initial concentration of atrazine (0.1 and 1mg/l) the removal rate in UV/ Fe (III) - TiO2 process was more than the UV process. However, at higher concentration, both processes were almost the same and the maximum removal efficiency (99.2% at UV and 99.11% at UV /Fe (III) - TiO2) occurred at pH=11, initial Atrazine concentration of 10mg/L and the reaction time 30 min In conclusion, UV and Fe+3 -TiO2/UV process was an appropriate method to reduce atrazine in contaminated water resources.