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Combined chemical oxidation and biological processes for herbicide degradation
Author(s) -
Benzaquén Tamara B,
Isla Miguel A,
Alfano Orlando M
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
journal of chemical technology and biotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.64
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1097-4660
pISSN - 0268-2575
DOI - 10.1002/jctb.4635
Subject(s) - cyanuric acid , atrazine , effluent , biodegradation , chemistry , mineralization (soil science) , degradation (telecommunications) , hydrogen peroxide , wastewater , pesticide , environmental chemistry , sewage treatment , chemical stability , pollutant , pesticide degradation , biological oxidation , organic chemistry , melamine , environmental engineering , nitrogen , environmental science , telecommunications , computer science , agronomy , biology
BACKGROUND Fenton and photo‐Fenton processes were explored as photochemical pre‐treatments to improve the biodegradability of wastewater containing atrazine, a commercial pesticide. The effects of H 2 O 2 , Fe 3+ and irradiation level on the degradation processes were studied and the optimal conditions determined. RESULTS Fenton and photo‐Fenton oxidation systems were able to remove 85 and 100% of atrazine, respectively, in a 120 min period. These processes produced a biocompatible solution, removing 100% of the initial biorecalcitrant compound; however, cyanuric acid remained in the effluent after the chemical oxidation treatment due to the stability of the N‐heterocyclic ring of this acid. Nevertheless, it was found that the cyanuric acid remaining from the photo‐oxidative process can be removed by means of an anaerobic treatment. CONCLUSIONS The results obtained in this work indicate that a coupled photo‐Fenton–biological treatment system is a feasible method to achieve the complete mineralization of biorecalcitrant pollutants such as atrazine. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry