Effect of Fenton and photo-Fenton reactions on the degradation and biodegradability of 2 and 4-nitrophenols in water treatment

Photo-Fenton, Fenton and biodegradation reactions have been investigated in detail during the degradation of 2 and 4-nitrophenols. Fenton-type reactions accelerated nitrophenols degradation in comparison with direct photolysis using pyrex flasks (λ > 290 nm). The influence of Fe³⁺, H₂O₂, light, temperature, reactant concentration and gas atmosphere was systematically studied. Experimental techniques used involved total organic carbon determination (TOC), high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and spectroscopy (OD). A solution containing 3.6·10⁻¹ M of 2-nitrophenol was degraded in ca. 3 h (30°C) in the dark and in ca. 1 h (30°C) under light where continuous photoproduction of the Fenton reagent is achieved. This study shows that the hydrolxylation of the phenol ring is fast as compared to the slower concomitant decrease in DOC in dark or light processes. Using NMR an explanation is proposed in terms of pathways involving direct oxidation of the nitrophenols under study by hydroxy type radicals. Chemical insight is provided why the photo-Fenton degradation observed for 2-nitrophenol proceeds at about half the rate than his homologue 4-nitrophenol. Biodegradability of 2-nitrophenol was monitored before and after photo-Fenton treatment by biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and indicated the formation of substances which are non-biodegradable during photo-Fenton pretreatment.