Remediation of TCE-contaminated water by enhanced chemical oxidation using Na2S2O8/H2O2/red mud

Abstract

In this study, the feasibility of degrading trichloroethylene (TCE)-contaminated water (initial TCE concentration of approximately 45 mg/L) was evaluated via persulfate oxidation activated by red mud. The study indicates that red mud is able to activate the persulfate oxidation mechanism producing sulfate radicals () to oxidize TCE. There is a higher TCE removal (92%) with the addition of 2 g/L red mud after 5 h of oxidation reaction vs. non red mud system (42% TCE removal). A maximum TCE removal efficiency is obtained at neutrality condition. The TCE degradation rate reached 95% at lower temperature with the oxidation of hydrogen peroxide and sodium persulfate, respectively. This result reveals that the ability of activated persulfate () to generate sulfate radicals () is limited by thermal. In addition, a favorable TCE degradation rate is acquired for Fenton-like oxidation reaction with hydrogen peroxide and sodium persulfate as oxidant.