Treatment of Water Contaminated with DI-N-Butyl Phthalate by Foto-Fenton Process

This study was conducted to assess the removal efficiency of Di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP) from aqueous
medium using the photo-Fenton process. The Fenton's reagent that consists of a mixture of hydrogen peroxide
(H2O) and ferrous ions (Fe2+) was used to generate the hydroxyl radical (OH0) that attacks the target
contaminant and degrade it. An ultraviolet (UV) source was used to provide the radiation needed in
the photo-Fenton method (i.e. UV/H2O2/Fe2+). The results demonstrated that photo-Fenton process was
more effective and faster than Fenton's reagent in removing DnBP and that photolysis by UV irradiation
was the dominant mechanism in degrading the compound. The results also showed that enhancing the
removal via UV irradiation was achieved by increasing either the temperature or the H2O2 concentration.