The Effect of Humic Acids on Nitrobenzene Oxidation by Ozonation and O sub(3)/UV Processes

• Published in: Water research (Oxford) Vol. 37; no. 8; p. 1879
• Main Authors: Latifoglu, Aysegul, Gurol, Mirat D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.04.2003
• Subjects: Benzene; nitrobenzene
• ISSN: 0043-1354
• DOI: 10.1016/S0043-1354(02)00583-3

The effects of various types of humic acids on the oxidation of nitrobenzene were investigated. Commercially available Fluka, Aldrich, and Suwanee River humic acids were used in treatments involving ozone alone and O sub(3)/UV. Under ozonation, the addition of humic acid to the solution caused the O sub(3) concentration to be reduced from 100 mu g/l to undetectable levels, and the presence of humic acid significantly reduced the oxidation rate of nitrobenzene due to the consumption of O sub(3) and hydroxyl radical by the humic acid. The effect of humic acid on the removal rate of nitrobenzene was more pronounced in the O sub(3)/UV process than in the ozonation process, as humic acid adsorbed significant amounts of UV light. In both processes, the amount of hydrogen peroxide accumulated depended significantly upon the amount of humic acid present.