The role of Fenton’s reaction in aqueous phase pulsed streamer corona reactors

Abstract

Aqueous phase pulsed streamer corona reactors are currently under development for a number of applications including water and wastewater treatment. Previous research has demonstrated that a high voltage pulsed electrical discharge directly into water leads to the formation of reactive species such as hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals. Since significant quantities of hydrogen peroxide are produced, the role of Fenton’s reactions in the pulsed corona reactor is analyzed both experimentally and with computer simulations in the present work. Experimental data shows the existence of optimal iron concentrations for the degradation of phenol, and that the formation of hydrogen peroxide by the pulsed corona discharge is dependent upon both the applied electric field and the solution conductivity. A mathematical model based upon mass balances for 31 radical and molecular species in the batch reactor (including 71 chemical reactions) has been developed and sensitivity analysis performed to identify key reactions. This model is used to show the effects of initial reaction conditions (including iron and phenol concentrations) on the degradation of phenol and the formation of reaction intermediate products and by-products. The model results are in qualitative and semi-quantitative agreement with the experimental observations on the effects of initial iron and phenol concentrations on phenol degradation and by-product formation.