Evolution of Ecotoxicity upon Fenton's Oxidation of Phenol in Water

摘要

This work deals with the evolution of intermediates and ecotoxicity upon Fenton's oxidation of phenol in aqueous solution. The EC_(50) values of the intermediates identified in the oxidation pathway of phenol have been measured. Some of these compounds, mainly hydroquinone and p-ben-zoquinone, showed toxicity levels much higher than phenol itself. Depending on the operating conditions, these intermediates could be completely transformed into organic acids, mainly oxalic and formic. Ecotoxicity values substantially lower than those expected from the chemical composition were measured in the reaction samples.