Improvement in carbofuran degradation by different Fenton’s reagent dosing processes

Abstract

Attempts were made in this study to examine the efficiency of Fenton's reagent with different dosing processes and H(2)O(2) and Fe(2+) concentrations for the treatment of carbofuran wastewater. Carbofuran degradation, total organic carbon (TOC) removal and H(2)O(2) consumption were determined during the experiments. Increases in H(2)O(2) and Fe(2+) concentrations led to an increase in the degradation of carbofuran. Almost 100% of carbofuran could be degraded at pH 3, 120 mg L(-1) H(2)O(2), 24 mg L(-1) Fe(2+) and 30 minutes reaction time; removals of TOC were among 48.8%-53.3% under different dosing processes. A continuous dosing process was beneficial to improve the removal of TOC by Fenton's reagent. Rate constants of carbofuran degradation could be calculated by the first-order kinetics; increase in the Fenton's reagent generally increased the rate constants. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis found five degradation products by hydroxyl radicals attack. Thus, this study might offer an effective dosing way for carbofuran wastewater treatment by Fenton's reagent.