Improving degradation of paracetamol by integrating gamma radiation and Fenton processes

• Published in: Journal of environmental science and health. Part A, Toxic/hazardous substances & environmental engineering Vol. 51; no. 12; pp. 997 - 1002
• Main Authors: Cruz-González, Germán, Rivas-Ortiz, Iram B., González-Labrada, Katia, Rapado-Paneque, Manuel, Chávez-Ardanza, Armando, Nuevas-Paz, Lauro, Jáuregui-Haza, Ulises J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis 14.10.2016; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Acetaminophen - chemistry; Advanced oxidation processes; Aqueous solutions; Degradation; Drugs; Environmental Restoration and Remediation - methods; Fenton reaction; Gamma radiation; Gamma Rays; Hydrogen Peroxide - chemistry; Mineralization; Oxidants; paracetamol; process intensification; Radiation dosage; Waste Water - chemistry; Water Pollutants, Chemical - chemistry; Advanced oxidation processes; gamma radiation; Fenton reaction; process intensification; paracetamol
• ISSN: 1093-4529; 1532-4117
• DOI: 10.1080/10934529.2016.1198140

Degradation of paracetamol (N-(4-hydroxiphenyl)acetamide) in aqueous solution by gamma radiation, gamma radiation/H 2 O 2 and gamma radiation/Fenton processes was studied. Parameters affecting the radiolysis of paracetamol such as radiation dose, initial concentration of pollutant, pH and initial oxidant concentration were investigated. Gamma radiation was performed using a 60 Co source irradiator. Paracetamol degradation and mineralization increased with increasing absorbed radiation dose, but decreased with increasing initial concentration of the drug in aqueous solution. The addition of H 2 O 2 resulted in an increased effect on irradiation-driven paracetamol degradation in comparison with the performance of the irradiation-driven process alone: paracetamol removal increased from 48.9% in the absence of H 2 O 2 to 95.2% for H 2 O 2 concentration of 41.7 mmol/L. However, the best results were obtained with gamma radiation/Fenton process with 100% of the drug removal at 5 kGy, for optimal H 2 O 2 and Fe 2+ concentrations at 13.9 and 2.3 mmol/L, respectively, with a high mineralization of 63.7%. These results suggest gamma radiation/H 2 O 2 and gamma radiation/Fenton processes as promising methods for paracetamol degradation in polluted wastewaters.