Sono-Fenton oxidation of formic acid/formate ions in an aqueous solution: From an experimental design to the mechanistic modeling

In order to establish an efficient oxidation process for the mineralization of a model wastewater containing formate species, the effects of some operating parameters such as Fenton reagent dosages and volume of the treated system were observed during the treatment by the ultrasonic assisted Fenton and modified Fenton processes. The mineralization kinetics was also examined based on the experimental data. The overall mineralization kinetics was found to be in the accordance with the first-order reaction kinetics. The results obtained within this work indicate an efficient mineralization, achieved by studied sono-chemical oxidation processes. With the appropriate combination of operating parameters it is reasonable to expect a mineralization extent of 94%, corresponding to the complete degradation of formate species with the consequent formation and the degradation of oxalic acid in the system. The detailed mathematical model describing the ongoing process in the studies batch system was developed on the basis of a mechanistic reaction scheme, given in the frame of this work. The model has been validated, pointing at the significance of the assumed reactions and the accuracy of the corresponding rate constants. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.