Kinetic Model of Photo-Fenton Degradation of Paracetamol in an Annular Reactor: Main Reaction Intermediates and Cytotoxicity Studies

BARBARA N. GIMÉNEZ; FRANCESCA AUDINO; MOISÉS GRAELLS; LEANDRO O. CONTE; AGUSTINA V. SCHENONE; ORLANDO M. ALFANO; MONSERRAT PÉREZ-MOYA

Torino

Congreso; 11th European Conference on Solar Chemistry and Photocatalysis: Environmental Applications (SPEA); 2022

A kinetic model derived from a simplified reaction sequence is proposed for the photo-Fenton degradation of paracetamol (PCT). The radiation field inside the pilot-plant photoreactor was considered through the Local Volumetric Rate of Photon Absorption (LVRPA). Kinetic parameters were estimated, and the validated kinetic model was used to predict temporal variations of the concentrations of H2O2, PCT, and the main reaction intermediates: hydroquinone (HQ) and 1,4-benzoquinone (BQ). The root mean square error (RMSE) values obtained for H2O2, PCT, HP, HQ and BQ were 3.78 x 10-2, 1.11, 6.75 x 10-3, 5.94 x 10-3 mM, respectively, showing a good agreement between experimental and predicted data. A cytotoxicity test proved that the photo-Fenton process is effective in generating a non-toxic effluent, with the appropriate operating variables.