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Improving the Fenton process by visible LED irradiation

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Abstract

The effect of irradiation with visible light-emitting diode (LED) light on the efficiency of Fenton oxidation is investigated using phenol as the target compound (100 mg/L). The H2O2 dose and temperature are tested as operating variables with the aim of minimizing consumption of the reagents. At 50 °C, 10 mg/L Fe2+, and 60 % of the stoichiometric H2O2 amount, phenol was completely oxidized into CO2, H2O, and short chain organic acids, with oxalic acid completely degraded. Up to 95 % mineralization was achieved. This high efficiency can be attributed to the effect of LED radiation on the quinones/Fe2+/Fe3+/H2O2 cycle, which significantly increases the reaction rate, as well as on the photodecomposition of the iron complexes formed along the oxidation process, which also enhanced mineralization.

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Acknowledgments

This research has been supported by the Spanish MICINN through the projects CTQ2013-41963-R and by the CM through the project S2013/MAE-2716. The authors also want to thank Dr. Harding for his collaboration.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ingenieria Quimica, Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Crta. Colmenar km 15, 28049, Madrid, Spain

    Gema Pliego, Patricia Garcia-Muñoz, Juan A. Zazo, Jose A. Casas & J.J. Rodriguez

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  1. Gema Pliego
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  2. Patricia Garcia-Muñoz
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  3. Juan A. Zazo
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  4. Jose A. Casas
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  5. J.J. Rodriguez
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Correspondence to Gema Pliego.

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Responsible editor: Vítor Pais Vilar

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Pliego, G., Garcia-Muñoz, P., Zazo, J.A. et al. Improving the Fenton process by visible LED irradiation. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23, 23449–23455 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7543-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7543-y

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