Degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in different synthetic solutions by Fenton's oxidation

The Fenton oxidation using phenanthrene (Phe), fluoranthene (Fle) and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) as representative polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contaminants was examined. The effect of the H2O2 concentration, the temperature and the competition between the PAHs in different solutions (methanol, surfactant and quartz) was investigated. The Fenton oxidation process was performed at pH=2.5. The best conditions were recorded by adding 15g H2O2 L-1 with a molar H2O2/Fe2+ ratio of 10/1 at T=60 degrees C. Phe, Fle and BaP were efficiently degraded in aqueous solution (Phe=99%, Fle=99% and BaP=90%). The present study demonstrated that Phe, Fle and BaP were degraded to intermediate compounds and also oxidized to carbon dioxide. Among the by-products obtained, phthalic acids and benzoic acid were recorded as the major products.