Photodegradation of the endocrine-disrupting chemicals benzophenone-3 and methylparaben using Fenton reagent: Optimization of factors and mineralization/biodegradability studies

Benzophenone-3 (BP3) and methylparaben (MPB) are two emerging pollutants, whose endocrine disrupting activity on different living beings has been reported. Therefore, removal of these pollutants from aqueous samples using photo-Fenton technology was assessed. Effects of Fez} and H2O2 initial concentrations on pollutants photo-degradation were analyzed and a face centered, central composite design was carried out for determining the optimal conditions, in the evaluated range, that conducted to higher substrate elimination. Results indicated that Fe2+ and H2O2 initial concentration and the interaction between them affect significantly the process. In addition, experiments varying BP3 and MPB initial concentrations showed that elimination rate increases with an increase in the substrate initial concentration and a pseudo-first-order kinetic can be used to describe pollutants degradation. Under optimal conditions compounds were eliminated totally after 120 min of treatment. Dissolved organic carbon studies illustrated that more than 60% of contaminants were mineralized and biodegradability analysis indicated that this factor increased gradually during 300 min of photo-Fenton treatment. (C) 2015 Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.