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  • Elimination of phenol and aromatic compounds by zero valent iron and EDTA at low temperature and atmospheric pressure.

Elimination of phenol and aromatic compounds by zero valent iron and EDTA at low temperature and atmospheric pressure.

Chemosphere (2007-02-16)
Irama Sanchez, Frank Stüber, Josep Font, Agustí Fortuny, Azael Fabregat, Christophe Bengoa
ABSTRACT

This work deals with a new abiotic oxidation process designed as a suitable pre-treatment step within a biological depuration of wastewater containing phenol or its derivatives (o-cresol, 2-chlorophenol and p-nitrophenol) or aniline. The reaction was carried out in a stirred tank reactor at 20 degrees C and atmospheric pressure in presence of the organic compound, 150mgl(-1), zero valent iron particles (10g), ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA, 101mgl(-1)) and air. The experimental results show that 85% of phenol conversion can be achieved after 360min. 2-Chlorophenol was found to be more easily degradable and it is completely eliminated after 300min. The oxidation of o-cresol and aniline behaved more closely to phenol obtaining after 360min 70% and 68% of conversion respectively. p-Nitrophenol was a very refractory compound, giving only 28% of conversion after 360min. Moreover, the influence of some operating variables was studied over the following ranges: temperature from 20 to 50 degrees C, initial phenol concentration from 150 to 1000mgl(-1), EDTA concentration from 50 to 200mgl(-1) and iron particles from 5 to 20g. As expected, temperature strongly enhances phenol conversion. Also, an increase of the catalyst to phenol ratio or the iron or EDTA to phenol ratio improves the reaction rate. A preliminary kinetic analysis of the data shown that the rate of phenol disappearance is not first order with respect to the phenol.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Sigma-Aldrich
o-Cresol, SAJ first grade, ≥97.0%
Sigma-Aldrich
o-Cresol, ReagentPlus®, ≥99%
Supelco
o-Cresol, analytical standard
Sigma-Aldrich
o-Cresol, ≥99%