Fenton Process: a Simple and Effective Technique for Pre-treatment of a Disinfectant Solution

DOUMIC L.I.; ALMEIDA M.E.; FERRO OROZCO A.M.; AYUDE M.A.

Congreso; 4º Congreso Colombiano de Procesos Avanzados de Oxidación (4CCPAOX); 2021

The feasibility of implementing the Fenton treatment to effectively oxidize a benzalkonium chlorides (BAC) solution 100 mg L-1 using relatively low catalyst load and temperature was studied. The effect of initial H2O2 concentration (3.6, 7.2 and 14.5 mmol L-1) on the treatment performance was evaluated. Best results were achieved using an initial H2O2 concentration of 14.5 mmol L-1. Almost complete BAC conversion (98.4%), with a H2O2 consumption of 4.3 mmol L-1, was attained in 180 min. After 48 hours of storage (dark, room temperature and without stirring), oxidant and BAC were completely consumed. Furthermore, along 7 days of storage, DOC conversion increased from 5.2% (after 180 min Fenton treatment) to 61.1%, and COD decreased to 35.8 mgCOD L-1 (85.4% of conversion). The BOD5/COD ratio was 1.38 and no detectable inhibition of the respiratory activity was observed in toxicity experiments. When the treated solution was subjected to biological treatment, a significant reduction in the decrease of the biomass concentration with respect to untreated BAC solution was observed.