Photooxidation Degradation of Reactive Brilliant Red K-2BP in Aqueous Solution by Ultraviolet Radiation/Sodium Hypochlorite

Photooxidation degradation of Reactive Brilliant Red K-2BP (K-2BP) aqueous solution by ultraviolet irradiation/sodium hypochlorite (LTV/NaClO) was investigated. The effects of NaClO dosage, pH, temperature and initial dye concentrations were studied. A possible degradation pathway of K-2BP was investigated. Acidic or neutral conditions were beneficial to the decolorization of K-2BP aqueous solution. However, alkaline conditions facilitated chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal. Increasing the solution temperature from 20 to 50 degrees C increased the removal of color and COD. However, at 60 degrees C, the final percentage color and COD removal decreased by approximately 17 and 10%, respectively. Based on the products indentified and theoretical analysis, N=N cleavage and C-N cleavage were possible initial steps in the degradation of K-2BP. From the results of this work, we conclude that treatment of UV/NaClO is an efficient method to degrade K-2BP in aqueous solution.