4-Chlorophenol degradation with modified domestic microwave and hydrogen peroxide in aqueous solution

Abstract

Aims: This study was conducted for degradation of 4-chlorophenol by microwave (MW) radiations alone and in combination with hydrogen peroxide from aqueous solution. Materials and Methods: A modified domestic microwave oven was used alone and in combination with hydrogen peroxide for removing 4-chlorophenol. Furthermore, the influences of pH value, irradiation time, the power of MW radiations, and the initial concentration of 4-chlorophenol were studied. Results: It was shown that 4-chlorophenol removal efficiency extremely depend on the concentration of hydrogen peroxide, pH value, MW irradiation power and initial 4-chlorophenol concentration. The optimum conditions obtained for the best degradation rate were pH = 10.5, H 2 O 2 concentration of about 0.1 mol/l, and MW irradiation power of about 600 W. Other result shows that the best degradation rate of 4-chlorophenol was obtained when initial 4-chlorophenol concentration was 50 mg/l. Also the amount of the specific energy consumption in this method was 17460 kwh/kg of the removed organic compound. Conclusion: This result shows that MW irradiation in the presence of hydrogen peroxide can greatly enhance the degradation of 4-chlorophenol. However, the high consumption of energy for this method must be taken into consideration.