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The effect of the UV photon flux on the photoelectrocatalytic degradation of endocrine-disrupting alkylphenolic chemicals

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Abstract

The photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) degradation of 4-nonylphenol ethoxylate (NP4EO) using a low, moderate, or high UV photon flux in different treatment times was investigated. The byproducts were verified using gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID) and gas chromatography with quadrupole mass analyzer (GC-qMS). The GC results showed that the use of a low (2.89 μmol m−2s−1) or a high (36.16 μmol m−2s−1) UV photon flux reaching the anode surface was associated to the production of alcohols and the toxic byproduct nonylphenol (NP), leading to the same degradation pathway. Meanwhile, the use of a moderate UV photon flux (14.19 μmol m−2s−1) reaching the anode surface did not produce alcohols or the NP toxic byproduct. This study demonstrates that different UV photon fluxes will have an influence in the degradation of NP4EO with or without generation of toxic byproducts. Furthermore, it is concluded that, after the determination of the UV photon flux able to degrade NP4EO without NP formation, the treatment time is essential in removal of NP4EO, since increasing the treatment time of 4 to 10 h, when using the PEC best conditions (moderate UV photon flux), implies in a higher treatment efficiency.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the Brazilian financial support from CNPq, FAPERGS, FINEP, and CAPES.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia de Minas, Metalúrgica e de Materiais (PPGE3M), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Av. Bento Gonçalves, 9500, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

    Salatiel Wohlmuth da Silva, Jane Zoppas Ferreira & Andréa Moura Bernardes

  2. Universidade Feevale, Campus II ERS-239, 2755, Novo Hamburgo, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

    Cheila Viegas & Marco Antônio Siqueira Rodrigues

Authors
  1. Salatiel Wohlmuth da Silva
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  2. Cheila Viegas
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  3. Jane Zoppas Ferreira
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  4. Marco Antônio Siqueira Rodrigues
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  5. Andréa Moura Bernardes
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Correspondence to Andréa Moura Bernardes.

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Responsible editor: Vítor Pais Vilar

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da Silva, S.W., Viegas, C., Ferreira, J.Z. et al. The effect of the UV photon flux on the photoelectrocatalytic degradation of endocrine-disrupting alkylphenolic chemicals. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 19237–19245 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7121-3

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