Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Comparison between UVA- and zero-valent iron-activated persulfate processes for degrading propylparaben

  • Advanced Oxidation Processes: Recent Achievements and Perspectives
  • Published:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Conventional wastewater treatments are not efficient in removing parabens, which may thus end up in surface waters, posing a threat to aquatic biota and human health. As an alternative treatment, persulfate (PS)-driven advanced oxidation technologies have gained growing attention for removing these pollutants. In this study, the degradation of propylparaben (PrP) by UVA- and zero-valent iron (ZVI)-activated persulfate was investigated. The effects of initial PS concentration ([PS]0) and irradiance or ZVI concentration were explored using the Doehlert experimental design. For the UVA-activated system, the specific PrP degradation rate (k) and percent removal were consistently higher for increasing [PS]0 and irradiance, varying in the ranges 0.0053–0.0192 min−1 and 37.9–77.3%, respectively. In contrast, extremely fast PrP degradation was achieved through the ZVI/PS process (0.3304 < k < 0.9212 min−1), with removal percentages above 97.5%; in this case, paraben degradation was hindered for a ZVI dosage beyond 40 mg L−1. Regarding toxicity, ECOSAR predictions suggest that the degradation products elucidated by LC-MS/MS are less toxic than PrP toward fish, daphnid, and green algae. In addition, both processes showed to be strongly dependent on the water matrix, being ZVI/PS more impacted for a MBR effluent, although its performance was much better than that exhibited by the UVA-driven process (t1/2 of 65.4 and 276.1 min, respectively).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • An J, Xia C, He J, Feng H (2018) Oxidation of propyl paraben by ferrate (VI): kinetics, products, and toxicity assessment. J Environ Sci Health A 53:873–882

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Andersen FA (2008) Final amended report on the safety assessment of methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, isopropylparaben, butylparaben, and benzylparaben as used in cosmetics products. Int J Toxicol 27:1–82

    Google Scholar 

  • Bazin I, Gadal A, Touraud E, Roig B (2010) Hydroxy benzoate preservatives (parabens) in the environment: data for environmental toxicity assessment. Environ Pollut 16:245–257

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bekris L, Frontistis Z, Trakakis G, Sygellou L, Galiotis C, Mantzavinos D (2017) Graphene: a new activator of sodium persulfate for the advanced oxidation of parabens in water. Water Res 126:111–121

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bennedsen LR, Muff J, Sogaard EG (2012) Influence of chloride and carbonates on the reactivity of activated persulfate. Chemosphere 86:1092–1097

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Błedzka D, Gromadzińska J, Wasowicz W (2014) Parabens. From environmental studies to human health. Environ Int 67:27–42

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brasil (2005) CONAMA Resolution 357. Published in Official Gazette 053 on March 18, 2005, page 58

  • Brasil (2011) CONAMA Resolution 430. Published in Official Gazette 092 on May 16, 2011, page 89

  • Buxton GV, Greenstock CL, Helman WP, Ross AB (1988) Critical review of rate constants for reactions of hydrated electrons, hydrogen atoms and hydroxyl radicals (OH/O−) in aqueous solution. Atomic Energy 17:513–886

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chen Y, Deng P, Xie P, Shang R, Wang Z, Wang S (2017) Heat-activated persulfate oxidation of methyl- and ethyl-parabens: effect, kinetics, and mechanism. Chemosphere 168:1628–1636

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Darbre PD (2003) Underarm cosmetics and breast cancer. J Appl Toxicol 23:89–95

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Darbre PD, Aljarrah A, Miller WR, Coldham NG, Sauer MJ, Pope GS (2004) Concentrations of parabens in human breast tumours. J Appl Toxicol 24:5–13

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dhaka S, Kumar R, Khan MA, Paeng KJ, Kurade MB, Kim SJ, Jeon BH (2017) Aqueous phase degradation of methyl paraben using UV-activated persulfate method. Chem Eng J 321:11–19

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Dhaka S, Kumar R, Lee SH, Kurade MB, Jeon BH (2018) Degradation of ethylparaben in aqueous medium using advanced oxidation processes: efficiency evaluation of UV-C supported oxidants. J Clean Prod 180:505–513

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Doehlert DH (1970) Uniform shell designs. J R Stat Soc: Ser C: Appl Stat 19:231–239

    Google Scholar 

  • Ferreira SLC, Santos WNL, Quintella CM, Neto BB, Bosque-Sendra JM (2004) Doehlert matrix: a chemometric tool for analytical chemistry – review. Talanta 63:1061–1067

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fogler HS (2006) Elements of chemical reaction engineering, 4th edn. Pearson Education, Pennsylvania

    Google Scholar 

  • Foszpańczyk M, Bednarczyk K, Drozdek E, Martins RC, Ledakowicz S, Gmurek M (2018) Comparison of photocatalytic and photosensitized oxidation of paraben aqueous solutions under sunlight. Water Air Soil Pollut 229:362

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Frontistis Z, Antonopoulou M, Konstantinou I, Mantzavinos D (2017) Degradation of ethyl paraben by heat-activated persulfate oxidation: statistical evaluation of operating factors and transformation pathways. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24:1073–1084

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ghauch A, Ayoub G, Naim S (2013) Degradation of sulfamethoxazole by persulfate assisted micrometric Fe0 in aqueous solution. Chem Eng J 228:1168–1181

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gmurek M, Rossi AF, Martins RC, Quinta-Ferreira R, Ledakowick S (2015) Photodegradation of single and mixture of parabens – kinetic, by-products identification and cost-efficiency analysis. Chem Eng J 276:03–314

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Graça CAL, Velosa AC, Teixeira ACSC (2017) Role of Fe(III)-carboxylates in AMZ photodegradation: a response surface study based on a Doehlert experimental design. Chemosphere 184:981–991

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Graça CAL, Fugita LTN, Velosa AC, Teixeira ACSC (2018) Amicarbazone degradation promoted by ZVI-activated persulfate: study of relevant variables for practical application. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25:5474–5483

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Graça CAL, Maniero MG, Andrade LM, Guimarães JR, Teixeira ACSC (2019) Evaluation of amicarbazone toxicity removal through degradation processes based on hydroxyl and sulfate radicals. J Environ Sci Health 54:1126–1143

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Han D, Wan J, Ma Y, Wang Y, Li Y, Li D, Guan Z (2015) New insights into the role of organic chelating agents in the Fe(II) activated persulfate processes. Chem Eng J 269:425–433

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ioannidi A, Frontistis Z, Mantzavinos D (2018) Destruction of propyl paraben by persulfate activated with UV-A light emitting diodes. J Environ Chem Eng 6:2992–2997

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liang C, Liang C-P, Chen C-C (2009) pH dependence of persulfate activation by EDTA/Fe(III) for degradation of trichloroethylene. J Contam Hydrol 106:173–182

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mayo-Bean K, Moran K, Meylan B, Ranslow P (2012) Methodology document for the ecological structure-activity relationship model (ECOSAR) class program. US-EPA, Washington D.C

    Google Scholar 

  • Metheneti ME, Frontistis Z, Ribeiro RS, Silva AMT, Faria JL, Gomes HT, Mantzavinos D (2017) Degradation of propylparaben by activated persulfate using iron-containing magnetic carbon xerogels: investigation of water matrix and process synergy effects. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25:34801–34810

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neta P, Huie RE, Ross AB (1988) Rate constants for reaction of inorganic radicals in aqueous solution. J Phys Chem Ref Data 17:1027–1284

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Oppenländer T (2003) Photochemical purification of water and air: advanced oxidation processes (AOPs): principles, reaction mechanisms, reactor concepts. Wiley-VCH

  • Pipolo M, Gmurek M, Corceiro V et al (2017) Ozone-based technologies for parabens removal from water: toxicity assessment. Ozone Sci Eng 39:233–243

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Souza LP, Graça CAL, Taqueda MES, Teixeira ACSC, Chiavone-Filho O (2019) Insights into the reactivity of zero-valent-copper-containing materials as reducing agents of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol in a recirculation packed-column system: degradation mechanism and toxicity evaluation. Process Saf Environ 127:348–358

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tay KA, Rahman NA, Abas MRB (2010) Ozonation of parabens in aqueous solution: kinetics and mechanism of degradation. Chemosphere 81:1446–1453

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wei X, Gao N, Li C, Deng Y, Zhou S, Li L (2016) Zero-valent iron (ZVI) activation of persulfate (PS) for oxidation of bentazon in water. Chem Eng J 285:660–670

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

The authors express their gratitude to the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq, grant no.131467/2017-4) and to the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP, grant no. 2013/50218-2) for the financial support.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Group in Advanced Oxidation Processes (AdOx), Department of Chemical Engineering, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Luciano Gualberto, 380, tv 3, São Paulo, 05508-900, Brazil

    Priscila H. Palharim & Antonio C. S. C. Teixeira

  2. Laboratory of Separation and Reaction Engineering – Laboratory of Catalysis and Materials (LSRE-LCM), Departamento de Engenharia Química, Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal

    Cátia A. L. Graça

Authors
  1. Priscila H. Palharim
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Cátia A. L. Graça
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Antonio C. S. C. Teixeira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Priscila H. Palharim or Cátia A. L. Graça.

Additional information

Responsible Editor: Vítor Pais Vilar

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Electronic supplementary material

ESM 1

(DOCX 1409 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Palharim, P.H., Graça, C.A.L. & Teixeira, A.C.S.C. Comparison between UVA- and zero-valent iron-activated persulfate processes for degrading propylparaben. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27, 22214–22224 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-08141-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-08141-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation