Degradation of bisphenol A in water by Fe(III)/UVA and Fe(III)/polycarboxylate/UVA photocatalysis

摘要

The photodegradation of the endocrine disrupting chemical Bisphenol A (BPA) under UVAnirradiation in the presence of Fe(III) or Fe(III)-polycarboxylate systems was studied.nThe effect of Fe(III) concentration, aqueous pH and the presence of four carboxylic acidsn(oxalic, malic, tartaric and citric) were investigated. The Fe(III)/UVA system was able to effectivelyndegrade BPA at pH 3 but failed at pH . 4. At any rate, no mineralization of BPA was achievednwith the Fe(III)/UVA system. The presence of carboxylic acids greatly enhanced the BPAndegradation rate because of the formation of photoactive Fe(III)-polycarboxylate complexes.nAqueous pH in the 3–7 range exerted a negative effect on the BPA degradation rate and TOCnconversion in the presence of oxalic, malic and tartaric acids. Only slight effect of pH wasnobserved in the presence of citric acid, being the BPA degradation rate significant even at pH 7.