Ozone, Electron Beam and Ozone-Electron Beam Degradation of Phenol. A Comparative Study

Abstract

The efficacy of electron beam (EB), ozone (O3) and the combined EB/O3 treatment on the removal of phenol, as a prototype for aromatic pollutants in water, is compared on the base of degradation, chemical oxygen demand (COD), total organic carbon (TOC) and toxicity. Complete decomposition of phenol (47 mg/L, 500 µM) was obtained with 14 kGy. Applying simultaneously 27 mg O3/L a dose of 10.5 kGy was sufficient. By the same amount of only ozone a phenol concentration of 45% remained. A TOC reduction of more than 70% was attained with EB/O3 (21 kGy/54 mg O3/L), whereas the identical, separate conditions solely led to 24% (EB) and 14% (O3). The EB/O3 treatment showed also the best results in COD decrease (79%, 21 kGy/54 mg O3/L) and detoxification (7 kGy/18 mg O3/L).