Enhancement of carboxylic acid degradation with sulfate radical generated by persulfate activation

摘要

The aim of this work was to investigate the generation of sulfate radical for the removalnof two carboxylic acids in aqueous solution: acetic and citric acids. From photochemical andnradiolytic processes, kinetics of the degradation of these two carboxylic acids was studied as anfunction of the pH of the solution. It was shown that the maximum of acetic acid degradationnoccurred at pH 5. Above this pH, competitive reactions with the carbon mineralized inhibit thenreaction of with the solute. In the case of citric acid, pH has only a little effect on the kinetic ofncitric acid degradation. The determination of mineralization yields shows several differencesndepending on carboxylic acids and pH. The degradation of both carboxylic acids was also studiednin the radiolysis process whether with or without persulfate addition. A comparison of thenprocesses of sulfate radical production is presented.