Degradation of bisphenol A by photo-fenton processes

Abstract

The photo-Fenton reactions, which could yield hydroxyl radicals via the catalytic degradation of H2O2 by Fe(II), were focused as one of the abiotic degradation processes of bisphenol A (BPA) in surface waters. At pH 6, in the presence of H2O2 only, 32% of BPA was degraded after 120 min of irradiation. However, 97% of BPA was degraded in the presence of both H2O2 and Fe(II). Without light irradiation, no BPA degradation was observed even in the presence of Fe(II) and H2O2. These results show that photo-Fenton processes are effective in the natural attenuation of BPA in surface water. In addition, the presence of humic acids (HAs), which were of more aliphatic nature, resulted in enhancing BPA degradation via the photo-Fenton processes. Therefore, HAs can be one of the important factors in enhancing the degradation of BPA in surface water via the photo-Fenton processes.