title: Degradation of persistent organic pollutants by Fenton's reagent facilitated by microwave or high-intensity ultrasound.
abstract: Microwave (MW) and high-intensity ultrasound (US) have emerged as powerful techniques for the elimination of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) that constitute a major health hazard, whether by direct exposure or through accumulation in biota. In order to achieve decontamination, POPs should be completely mineralized to CO2, H2O and smaller amounts of inorganic ions, or at least converted to less harmful chemical species. Under US or MW irradiation rapid degradation of aromatic halides, halogenated phenols and polychlorinated biphenyls in polluted waters was achieved at neutral pH in the presence of a moderate excess (5-30 eq) of Fenton's reagent. Acidification with acetic acid (pH 2.0-2.3) did not affect the process, but sulphuric acid (pH 1.7-2.0) facilitated complete degradation. Thus, compared to conventional methods, US and MW processes are faster and much more efficient.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienza e Tecnologia del Farmaco, Università di Torino, Via Giuria 9, 10125 Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cravotto
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: di Carlo
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tumiatti
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Roggero
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Bremner
mesh_terms: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007501:Iron / Q000737:chemistry*; D008872:Microwaves; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D014465:Ultrasonics
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; C045076:Fenton's reagent; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D007501:Iron