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Degradation of sunscreen agent p-aminobenzoic acid using a combination system of UV irradiation, persulphate and iron(II)

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Abstract

Increased usage and discharge of sunscreens have led to ecological safety crisis, and people are developing the advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) to treat them. The present study aimed to determine the degradation efficiency and mechanism of the sunscreen agent p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) using the UV/Fe2+/persulphate (PS) method. A series of irradiation experiments were conducted to optimise the system conditions and to study the impacts of the natural anion. Free radicals and degradation products were identified in order to clarify the degradation mechanism. Initial PS and Fe2+ concentrations showed significant impacts on PABA degradation. Natural anions, such as Cl−, NO3 −, H2PO4 − and HCO3 −, impeded PABA degradation because of ion (Fe2+) capture, radical scavenging or pH effects. Hydroxyl (HO·) and sulphate (SO4 ·−) radicals were two main radicals observed in the UV/Fe2+/PS system; of these, SO4 ·− showed greater effects on PABA degradation. Over 99 % of the available PABA was completely degraded into carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) by the UV/Fe2+/PS system, and the remaining PABA participated in complex radical reactions. By-products were identified by total ion chromatography and mass spectrometry. Our research provides a treatment process for PABA with high degradation efficiency and environmental safety and introduces a new strategy for sunscreen degradation.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant number 21307014).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Shanghai Key Laboratory of Atmospheric Particle Pollution and Prevention, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China

    Yicen Xue, Wenbo Dong, Xiaoning Wang, Wenlong Bi, Pingping Zhai, Hongjing Li & Minghua Nie

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  1. Yicen Xue
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  2. Wenbo Dong
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  3. Xiaoning Wang
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  4. Wenlong Bi
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  5. Pingping Zhai
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  6. Hongjing Li
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  7. Minghua Nie
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Correspondence to Wenbo Dong or Hongjing Li.

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Responsible editor: Santiago V. Luis

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Xue, Y., Dong, W., Wang, X. et al. Degradation of sunscreen agent p-aminobenzoic acid using a combination system of UV irradiation, persulphate and iron(II). Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 4561–4568 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5631-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-015-5631-z

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