The Photochemical Degradation (PCD) of Nitrobenzene (NB) using UV Light and Fenton Reagent Under Various Conditions

Photochemical degradation contributes to the environmental fate of many pesticides, chemicals, and industrial waste in surface waters. Photochemical degradation (PCD) of Nitrobenzene (NB) has been studied using a UV light source and Fenton reagent under different experimental conditions. The effect of concentration on PCD of NB was monitored and recorded in the range 0.5 x10 -4 M to 3.0x10 -4 M. The concentration of H 2 O 2 was performed from 5.0 x10 -4 M to 2.5 x10 -4 M and Fe(II) from 1.0 x10 -4 M to 5.0 x10 -4 M respectively.In terms of concentration, the absorbance increases with increasing the concentration of the solution of NB, H 2 O 2 and Fe(II). The initial rate of PCD was recorded at fixed pH 2.42 of solution. Two optimums for pH were found for PCD of Nitrobenzene ranging from pH 2.42 to 4.20. The intermediates formed during PCD of NB were identified, by which a mechanism was then suggested that PCD is actually found to follow pseudo first order kinetics.