Decomposition of acetic acid by advanced oxidation processes

Decomposition of acetic acid, known as a non-degradable organic compound, was conducted for several advanced oxidation processes such as TiO₂-UV-H₂O₂, Fe²⁺-H₂O₂-UV, UV-H₂O₂ and TiO₂-UV system. Acetic acid was efficiency decomposed within 120 minutes of UV radiation under the initial concentration of 500 ppm. The initial chemical oxygen demands (COD _cr ) tended to increase as H₂O₂ was added in most reactions. However, the initial COD _cr was not increased as H₂O₂ was consumed for the oxidation of iron salt in the photo-Fenton oxidation process. COD _cr and concentration of acetic acid rapidly decreased as the mole ratio of hydrogen peroxide increased owing to rapid decomposition of the reactant at the beginning of reaction. All reactions show first order pseudo reaction rate. The COD _cr removal rate and the decomposition efficiency of acetic acid were fastest in the UV-H₂O₂ process.