Catalytic wet air oxidation of phenol by CeO2 catalyst--effect of reaction conditions

The effect of catalyst loading, oxygen pressure, reaction temperature and phenol concentration on phenol conversion and total organic carbon (TOC) conversion, using CeO(2) as the catalyst, was investigated. There appeared a maximum rate of phenol conversion and TOC conversion as the catalyst loading increased. With phenol concentrations in the range of 400-2500 mg/L and oxygen pressure of 0.5 or 1.0 MPa, the optimal catalyst loading was 1.0 g/L, while it was 2.0 g/L at an oxygen pressure of 1.5 MPa. With a phenol concentration of 5000 mg/L, the optimal loading was 2.0 g/L for all oxygen pressures tested. Catalyst loading influences the reaction via the free-radical chain reaction involved in the catalytic wet air oxidation of phenol. Regarding oxygen pressures, at a phenol concentration of 400mg/L, the influence of the tested pressures (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 MPa) on the 3h conversion of phenol was negligible, while the effect was significant for higher concentrations of phenol. The effect of oxygen pressure on TOC conversion was more profound, especially at a higher phenol concentration. At a pressure of 0.5 MPa, except for concentration of 400mg/L, the CO(2) selectivity barely exceed 80% at best, and was less than 25% with a phenol concentration of 5000 mg/L. At a pressure of 1.5 MPa, the selectivity was as high as 90% even for a concentration of 5000 mg/L. As was expected, increase of reaction temperature shortened the time taken to reach 50% phenol conversion. In addition, TOC conversion also increased with reaction temperature. Working from these observed results, optimal operating conditions were proposed.     

TiO2、Cu2O和氧化石墨烯复合氧化垃圾渗滤液效能

针对垃圾渗滤液中成分复杂的污染物,在自然光照条件下,使用TiO₂/氧化石墨烯、Cu₂O/氧化石墨烯和TiO₂/Cu₂O三种复合催化剂分别对垃圾渗滤液原液进行催化氧化。结果表明,3种复合催化剂中,TiO₂/氧化石墨烯复合催化剂对有机物的去除效果最好,当催化剂与渗滤液COD的质量比为0.7时为该催化剂的最佳投加量,最佳反应时间为2 h。在最佳试验条件下,对垃圾渗滤液原液进行催化氧化后,对COD的去除率达到92.57%,此时渗滤液出水COD为964.79mg/L,出水NH4⁺-N为2015.84 mg/L,BOD₅/COD值达到0.83。     

Formation equation of halogenated organic compounds when water is chlorinated

Various halogenated organic compounds are formed by chlorination of water. In this study, formation of organic compounds halogenated from a reagent humic acid and extract of a leaf mold were examined under various conditions. The following overall formation equation was obtained from empirical data under the practical wide range when free chlorine remained.

[TOX]=k_TOX[TOC][Cl₂]_ot^β.

Here, [TOX] is the concentration of total organic halogen after t h in units of mg chlorine per liter; [TOC] and [Cl₂]_o are concentrations of total organic carbon and dosed chlorine in units of mg per liter; k_TOX is the rate constant and and β are parameters. From the values of k_TOX, and β, the character of organic substances i.e. precursor of halogenated organic compounds, in water can be evaluated. The values k_TOX, and β for humic acid are 0.053, 0.28 and 0.13, and the values for extract of the leaf mold are 0.032, 0.36 and 0.15, respectively. The activation energies are 10 kJ mol⁻¹ and 11 kJ mol⁻¹ for the reactions of humic acid and leaf mold extract, respectively.     

Factors influencing oxygen transfer in fine pore diffused aeration

A bench-scale experiment was conducted in a 701. tank of tap water to examine the effect of four design variables on oxygen transfer in a fine pore diffused aeration system. The experiment used non-steady state gas transfer methodology to examine the effect of air flow rate, air flow rate per diffuser, orifice diameter and reduced tank surface area on the overall oxygen transfer coefficient (K_La₂₀, h⁻¹); standard oxygen transfer rate (OT₂, g O₂ h⁻¹); energy efficiency (E_p, g O₂ kWh⁻¹) and oxygen transfer efficiency (E_o, %). The experiments demonstrated that K_La₂₀ and OT_s increased with air flow rate (9.4–18.8 1 min⁻¹) in the 40 and 140 μ diameter orifice range; however, E_p and E₀ were not affected. Reducing the air flow rate per fine pore diffuser (40 and 140 μ diameter pore size) significantly increased K_La₂₀, OT_s, E_p and E₀. A decrease in orifice diameter from 140 to 40 μ had no effect on K_La₂₀, OT_s, E_p and E₀. A reduction in tank surface area had a marginally significant inverse effect on K_La₂₀ and OT_s, and no effect on E_p and E_o. The mean bubble size produced by the 40 and 140 μ diffusers was 4.0 and 4.2 mm, respectively. There was no consistent effect of air flow rate on bubble size within the range of air flow rates used in this experiment. In clean water aeration applications, the optimum system efficiency will be obtained using the largest number of fine pore diffusers operated at low air flow rates per diffuser. In wastewater treatment plants, higher air flow rates per diffuser should be used to prevent diffuser biofouling and keep biological solids in suspension. Wastewater systems are purposely operated at less than optimum transfer efficiencies in exchange for reduced diffuser maintenance and improved mixing. In either situation, changes in tank surface area and diffuser pore size (provided that pore diameter remains between 40 and 140 μ) are unlikely to have any significant effect on aeration system efficiency.     

TiO2/WO3纳米复合膜的制备及光催化性能研究

以有机染料亚甲基蓝(MB)为目标降解物,在玻璃基底上采用溶胶-凝胶法制备TiO2/WO3纳米结构复合光催化膜,研究不同TiO2和WO3摩尔比对性能的影响.采用XRD、SEM、EDS、UV-vis、电化学阻抗测试、光催化测试等技术对样品的成分及性能进行表征.结果表明,当TiO2和WO3摩尔比为3:1时,TiO2/WO3纳...     

Anaerobic biological treatment of phenol at 9.5-15 degrees C in an expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB)-based bioreactor

The aims of this study were to demonstrate the (1) feasibility of psychrophilic, or low-temperature, anaerobic digestion (PAD) of phenolic wastewaters at 10–15 °C; (2) economic attractiveness of PAD for the treatment of phenol as measured by daily biogas yields and (3) impact on bioreactor performance of phenol loading rates (PLRs) in excess of those previously documented (1.2 kg phenol m⁻³ d⁻¹). Two expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB)-based bioreactors, R1 and R2, were employed to mineralise a volatile fatty acid-based wastewater. R2 influent wastewater was supplemented with phenol at an initial concentration of 500 mg l⁻¹ (PLR, 1 kg m⁻³ d⁻¹). Reactor performance was measured by chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency, CH₄ composition of biogas and phenol removal (R2 only). Specific methanogenic activity, biodegradability and toxicity assays were employed to monitor the physiological capacity of reactor biomass samples. The applied PLR was increased to 2 kg m⁻³ d⁻¹ on day 147 and phenol removal by day 415 was 99% efficient, with 4 mg l⁻¹ present in R2 effluent. The operational temperature of R1 (control) and R2 was reduced by stepwise decrements from 15 °C through to a final operating temperature of 9.5 °C. COD removal efficiencies of c. 90% were recorded in both bioreactors at the conclusion of the trial (day 673), when the phenol concentration in R2 effluent was below 30 mg l⁻¹. Daily biogas yields were determined during the final (9.5 °C) operating period, when typical daily R2 CH₄ yields of c. 3.3 l CH₄ g⁻¹ COD_removed d⁻¹ were recorded. The rate of phenol depletion and methanation by R2 biomass by day 673 were 68 mg phenol g VSS⁻¹ d⁻¹ and 12–20 ml CH₄ g VSS⁻¹ d⁻¹, respectively.     

A coupled photocatalytic-biological process for degradation of 1-amino-8-naphthol-3, 6-disulfonic acid (H-acid)

 There has been growing emphasis on the development of coupled treatment systems (e.g., advanced oxidation–biological) for treating poorly biodegradable wastewater. An attempt has been made in the present study to couple photocatalytic (TiO₂/UV) pretreatment with conventional activated sludge process to achieve improvement in the biodegradation of H-acid. The combination of titanium dioxide and UV light has been known to generate strong oxidants that degrade several organic pollutants into carbon dioxide via the formation of some intermediates. The intermediates formed may undergo biodegradation readily. Accordingly, photodegradation experiments were carried out initially at an optimized TiO₂ dose and the minimum pretreatment time required for transforming H-acid was identified. For this purpose, UV–vis spectrophotometry and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) were extensively used. Subsequently, it was attempted to biodegrade untreated and pretreated H-acid using activated sludge from the textile industry acclimatized to H-acid. It was found that photocatalytic pretreatment of H-acid for 30 min, during which period approximately 8–10% chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal occurred, can be coupled to second-stage biological treatment for achieving enhanced biodegradation of H-acid.     

The long-term nutrient accumulation with respect to anthropogenic impacts in the sediments from two freshwater marshes (Xianghai Wetlands, Northeast China)

Sediment cores, representing a range of watershed characteristics and anthropogenic impacts, were collected from two freshwater marshes at the Xianghai wetlands (Ramsar site no. 548) in order to trace the historical variation of nutrient accumulation. Cores were ²¹⁰Pb- and ¹³⁷Cs-dated, and these data were used to calculate sedimentation rates and sediment accumulation rates. Ranges of dry mass accumulation rates and sedimentation rates were 0.27–0.96 g m⁻² yr⁻¹ and 0.27–0.90 cm yr⁻¹, respectively. The effect of human activities on increased sediment accumulation rates was observed. Nutrients (TOC, N, P, and S) in sediment were analyzed and nutrient concentration and accumulation were compared in two marshes with different hydrologic regime: an “open” marsh (E-0) and a partly “closed” marsh (F-0). Differences in physical and chemical characteristics between sediments of “open” and partly “closed” marsh were also observed. The “open” marsh sequestered much higher amounts of TOC (1.82%), N (981.1 mg kg⁻¹), P (212.17 mg kg⁻¹), and S (759.32 mg kg⁻¹) than partly “closed” marsh (TOC: 0.32%, N: 415.35 mg kg⁻¹, P: 139.64 mg kg⁻¹, and S: 624.45 mg kg⁻¹), and the “open” marsh indicated a rather large historical variability of TOC, N, P, and S inputs from alluvial deposits. Nutrient inputs (2.16–251.80 g TOC m⁻² yr⁻¹, 0.43–20.12 g N m⁻² yr⁻¹, 0.39–3.03 g P m⁻² yr⁻¹, 1.60–15.13 g S m⁻² yr⁻¹) into the Xianghai wetlands of China are in the high range compared with reported nutrient accumulation rates for freshwater marshes in USA. The vertical variation, particularly for N, P, and S indicated the input history of the nutrients of the Xianghai wetlands developed in three periods—before 1950s, 1950–1980s, and after 1980s. The ratios between anthropogenic and natural inputs showed that the relative anthropogenic inputs of TOC, N, P, and S have been severalfold (TOC: 1.68–11.21, N: 0.47–3.67, P: 0.24–1.36, and S: 1.46–2.96) greater than values of their natural inputs after 1980s. The result is probably attributable, in part, to two decades of surface coal mining activities, urban sewage, and agriculture runoff within the upstream region of the Huolin River. Our findings suggest that the degree of anthropogenic disturbance within the surrounding watershed regulates wetland sediment, TOC, N, P, and S accumulation.     

Empirical rate equation for trihalomethane formation with chlorination of humic substances in water

Trihalomethane (THM) in drinking water is formed by chlorination of humic substances. In this study, the rates of THM formation in aqueous solution of humic acid were examined under various conditions. The following rate equation was obtained empirically. [THM] = k (pH − a)[TOC][Cl₂]₀^mtⁿ.

Here, [THM] is the concentration of total THM after t h, [TOC] and [Cl₂]₀ are the concentrations of total organic carbon and chlorine dose, k is the rate constant and a, m and n are parameters. The values of k, a, m and n for humic acid as reagent were obtained as 8.2 × 10⁻⁴ (l^mmg^−mh⁻ⁿ), 2.8, 0.25 and 0.36, respectively. The activation energy was obtained as 37 kJ mol⁻¹. Further, it was proved that the above equation could be applied to the rates of THM formation from precursors in actual river and lake waters.     

On the love strain form of naturally curved and twisted rods

Love proposed in 1944 [A.E.H. Love, A Treatise on the Mathematical Theory of Elasticity. Dover Publications, New York, 1944] that the nonvanishing (linear) strain components of a naturally curved and twist spatial rod, whose centroidal axis is along x and cross-section is in yz plane, can be represented nicely in the form ε_xx = e₁ + zk₂ − yk₃ε_xy = e₂ − zk₁ε = e₃ + yk₁ where e₁, e₂, e₃ are the strain components at y = z = 0 and k₁, k₂, k₃ are the curvatures. Functions e₁, e₂, e₃, k₁, k₂, k₃ depend on x alone. Mottershead [J. E. Mottershead, “Finite elements for dynamical analysis for helical rods”, International Journal of Mechanical Sciences, 22, (1980), pp 252–283], Pearson and Wittrick [D. Pearson and W.H. Witrick “An exact solution for the vibration of helical springs using a Bernoulli-Euler Model”, International Journal for Mechanical Sciences, 28, (1986), pp 83–96], Leung [A.Y.T. Leung “Exact shape functions for helix- elements”, Finite Elements in Analysis and Design, 9, (1991), pp 23–32], and Tabarrok and Xiong [B. Tabarrok and Y. Xiong, “On the buckling equations for spatial rods”, International Journal for Mechanical Sciences, 31, (1980), pp 179–192] have made use of the Love form. We shall show that the Love form is not even valid for two-dimensionally curved beams when shear deformation is considered. The fact that the differential length ds at point P, on the cross-section with distance y, z away from the centroidal axis is different from the differential length dx at point S on the centroidal axis has been neglected. In fact DS = (1 − k₃y + k₂z)dx, where k; are initial curvatures, which contribute to the strain components of the first order of curvatures.     

A bench study on lead removal from battery manufacturing wastewater by carbonate precipitation

A residual soluble Pb ≤ 0.2 mg/l has been measured after hydrocerussite precipitation in the range of pH 9–10 and filtration with 0.45 μm filter, at a total carbonate concentration (C_T) of about 1.5 × 10⁻⁴ M. Filterability and sedimentation were optimized by minimizing the “relative supersaturation” coefficient during precipitation. Pb abatement was implemented in the pH range 9–9.5, following a preliminary precipitation step consisting of a slow, gradual change of pH from 6.8 to 7.8 with 0.1 M NaOH solution. The crystals formed may settle within 24 h, allowing Pb to be recovered as Pb₃(CO₃)₂(OH)₂.     

Mode d'action du bioxyde de chlore sur les composes organiques en milieu aqueux Consommations de bioxyde de chlore et reactions sur les composes phenoliquesMode of action of chlorine dioxide on organic compounds in an aqueous medium en|Chlorine dioxide consumption and reactions on phenolic compounds

The aim of our work was to study the reaction between chlorine dioxide (ClO₂) and organic substances. In the first part of our survey, chlorine dioxide demands were measured in diluted aqueous solutions of various kinds of organic compounds (5 × 10⁻⁵ −10 M) at pH 7. In the second part, the study of the action of chlorine dioxide on phenols (phenol, di and triphenols) was undertaken by observing the change of the organic substance through global parameter controls (COT, u.v. spectrum) and by trying to identify a certain number of oxidation products by means of chromatographic analysis (HPLC and GC), of mass spectrometry and of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectrometry (NMR).     

Changes in organic constituents in river water during incubation

A water sample collected from Tama River in the Tokyo area was incubated 29 days in the dark conditions at 25 ± 3°C to determine the extent and rate of the degradation of organic constituents and changes in their composition. The majority (>95%) of n-alkanes, fatty acids and sterols were degraded, although total organic carbon (TOC) and extractable organic carbon with ethyl acetate (EOC) remained in considerable amounts (>23%). The degradation of organic constituents occurred apparently in two or three steps. The rate constants for the degradation of TOC, EOC, hydrocarbons, fatty acids and sterols for the first step were 0.090, 0.18, 0.082, 1.4 and 0.23 day⁻¹, respectively. The relative abundances of total fatty acids and sterols as carbon in TOC (EOC) decreased remarkably during incubation (0–11 days) from 7.18 to 0.28% and 0.46 to 0.07%, respectively (31.2-2.2% and 2.0-0.6%, respectively), whereas those of hydrocarbons were not significantly changed.     

冲击荷载作用下岩石动态响应预测研究

利用已有大理岩对冲击波的动态响应图,验证在0.1Hz不同加载方式下提出的岩石非线性动态响应预测模型及预测公式的适用性和合理性,提出加载速率波形曲线函数的适用条件。经研究表观弹性模量的拟合系数,提出了冲击压实系数a和冲击初始弹性模量b,以及岩样内部裂隙孔洞的压密效应系数a1和滑移错动效应系数a2,且有a=a1+a2,a10,a20。指出当岩样受到荷载作用时,岩样的压密作用与滑移错动作用是同时存在的,在加载段,|a1||a2|,在卸载段,|a1||a2|,致使加载段a0,卸载段a0。定义了加卸载速率响应比β,表征卸载段平均切线模量与加载段平均切线模量的比值,β值越大岩石的破坏程度越大,不同频率下,砂岩在三角波和正弦波加载方式下均有β≈2。各应变片的应变、变形速率、能量值的实测值与计算值均吻合较好,证明了在低速荷载下提出的岩石非线性动态响应预测模型及预测公式在高速冲击波随时间的毫秒级变化规律情况下具有较好的适用性和合理性,拓宽了该预测公式和模型的应用范围,对位移控制严格的工程设计和施工有现实意义。     

Heterogeneous catalytic wet peroxide oxidation systems for the treatment of an industrial pharmaceutical wastewater

The aim of this work was to assess the treatment of wastewater coming from a pharmaceutical plant through a continuous heterogeneous catalytic wet peroxide oxidation (CWPO) process using an Fe₂O₃/SBA-15 nanocomposite catalyst. This catalyst was preliminary tested in a batch stirred tank reactor (STR), to elucidate the influence of significant parameters on the oxidation system, such as temperature, initial oxidant concentration and initial pH of the reaction medium. In that case, a temperature of 80 °C using an initial oxidant concentration corresponding to twice the theoretical stoichiometric amount for complete carbon depletion and initial pH of ca. 3 allow TOC degradation of around 50% after 200 min of contact time. Thereafter, the powder catalyst was extruded with bentonite to prepare pellets that could be used in a fixed bed reactor (FBR). Results in the up-flow FBR indicate that the catalyst shows high activity in terms of TOC mineralization (ca. 60% under steady-state conditions), with an excellent use of the oxidant and high stability of the supported iron species. The activity of the catalyst is kept constant, at least, for 55 h of reaction. Furthermore, the BOD₅/COD ratio is increased from 0.20 to 0.30, whereas the average oxidation stage (AOS) changed from 0.70 to 2.35. These two parameters show a high oxidation degree of organic compounds in the outlet effluent, which enhances its biodegradability, and favours the possibility of a subsequent coupling with a conventional biological treatment.     

Modes of operation and pH control as enhancement factors for partial nitrification with oxygen transport limitation

Sequencing batch (SBR) and continuous operation modes were applied using different pH control strategies to enhance partial nitrification in a biofilm rotating disk reactor. The pH control strategies were supervisory control in the range of 7.5–8.6 and fixed pH at 7.5 and 8.5, at dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations in the range of 0.6–5.0 mg O₂/L. Supervisory pH control enabled operation at a free ammonia concentration inhibitory to the nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) and an optimum for the ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB). The results indicate that both operation modes were simultaneously controlled by oxygen transport and micro-kinetics (influenced by pH and NH₃). The SBR mode with supervisory pH control presented more stable partial nitrification-nitrite accumulation >80% for 249 days than continuous operation. Molecular analyses showed that the SBR operation with supervisory pH control at low DO concentrations contributed to the enrichment of the AOB (>95%) over the NOB (<5%) populations. Therefore, it can be stated that a suitable pH control strategy can act as an enhancement factor of partial nitrification even under oxygen-transport-limiting conditions.     

The mechanism of fire retardancy by phosphonated polystyrene

Rates of volatilisation and styrene evolution from isothermal degradations (330–360 °C) of radical polystyrene (RPS), telechelic chloromethoxyphosphonated polystyrene (TPPS) and their mixtures were measured by a coupled thermogravimetric (t.g.) gas-liquid chromatographic (g.l.c.) technique, and degradation products analysed.

Phosphonated groups substituted at chain ends (TPPS), strongly reduce the rate of degradation of the polymer whereas the same groups are inactive when substituted on aromatic rings.

The rate of volatilisation (T > 350 °C) of RPS is reduced by addition of TPPS (> 20%). At increasing temperature and amount of additive, the mixtures tend to behave like the pure additive.

Analysis of degradation products shows that during volatilisation of TPPS and its mixtures with RPS, phosphorus tends to remain in the residue while chlorine is completely volatilised.

The oxygen index (O.I.) of mixtures of TPPS (> 20%) and RPS increases regularly with the amount of TPPS in a similar way in O₂/N₂ and N₂O/N₂ atmospheres, showing that the flame retardancy mechanism of PPS is chiefly a solid phase action. This is confirmed by a correlation found between O.I. and the rate of volatilisation or styrene evolution from the polymers and mixtures investigated.     

Oxygen microprofiles of trickling filter biofilms

Oxygen microprofiles of photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic biofilms of trickling filters from a sewage treatment plant were studied with Clark type oxygen microelectrodes. The oxygen profiles in photosynthetic biofilms exhibited pronounced changes with changing light conditions, and the profiles of both types of biofilm were affected by addition of nutrients. The existence of a 100–500 μm thick diffusive boundary layer in the water just above the biofilm was evident from all recordings. The O₂ gradient in this boundary layer was used to calculate diffusive fluxes of oxygen exchanged between the biofilms and the overlying water phase. The calculated fluxes were compared to the overall oxygen consumption rates measured experimentally and to the photosynthetic activity as measured with the microelectrodes. Approximately 60–70% of the oxygen produced in the algal films during photosynthesis was consumed within the films. At least one third of this consumption may be due to photorespiration. Dark/light and light/dark shifts demonstrated a very dynamic nature of the O₂ status of the algal films, showing an increase from anaerobic conditions to 500% air saturation and vice versa within 25 min. In the same regime, pH profiles showed a similar dynamic change, whereby pH varied between 8.1 and 9.7 in the same period.

The data obtained with the non-photosynthetic biofilms show that the oxygen respiration and oxygen penetration are mostly limited by diffusive oxygen transport through the boundary layer. The overall oxygen consumption of the heterotrophic biofilms equalled within ± 10% the estimates made from flux calculations.     

Fire detection using cross-correlations of sensor signals

Experiments have been carried out to investigate the efficacy of signal cross-correlation techniques to provide early detection of fire. Cross-correlations were of the form A·B and A·B·C, where A, B and C were signals from various sensors and denotes averages of signal products over a correlation time interval, τ_c, extending from present time into the past. All signals were referenced to their baseline averages extending over a time interval, τ_B, into the past. Tests were conducted in a room, quiescent or highly ventilated, using fire sources modeled on the test fires of European Standard EN54. Various sensors responded to airborne pyrolysis and combustion products. Two complementary cross-correlations, ΔCO·ΔION and ΔCO₂·ΔT, were shown (with τ_B selected in the range 100–250 s and τ_C selected in the range 10–25 s) to be equivalent to a much more sensitive detection system than implied by the limits of the most sensitive EN54 class, where ΔCO and ΔCO₂ are referenced carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide concentrations, ΔION is the referenced output of a measuring ionization chamber, and ΔT is the referenced temperature.     

UV light assisted decolorization of dark brown colored coffee effluent by photo-Fenton reaction

The photochemical decolorization of coffee effluent has been examined by photo-Fenton (UV/Fe²⁺/H₂O₂) process. Effects of UV light intensity, initial coffee concentration, iron dose and H₂O₂ dose on the color removal of model coffee effluent have been investigated. The rate of decolorization increased with decreasing initial coffee effluent concentration. It was found that the Fe ion dose and UV light intensity enhanced the decolorization rate. The decolorization process of coffee effluent could be divided into three established phases. At the beginning of the photo-Fenton process, the instantaneous and significant increase in color of the solution was found (Phase-I). In the subsequent phase (Phase-II), the decolorization rate was initially fast and subsequently decreased. In Phase-III, the rate was accelerated and then the complete decolorization of model coffee effluent was achieved. In order to elucidate the mechanisms of coffee effluent color removal process, the concentration changes in Fe³⁺ and Fe²⁺ besides H₂O₂ were measured during the course of the photo-Fenton process. The rate-determining step in Phase-II was the photo-Fenton reaction or photoreduction of Fe³⁺. On the other hand, the decolorization process in Phase-III was highly affected by Fenton reaction or decomposition of H₂O₂ with Fe²⁺. About 93% mineralization of 250 mg L⁻¹ model coffee effluent was achieved after 250 min. A comparative study for TiO₂, ZnO and photo-Fenton oxidation processes has been also carried out and the photo-Fenton process was found to be the most effective for color removal of coffee effluent.