title: Oxidation of polyvinyl alcohol by persulfate activated with heat, Fe2+, and zero-valent iron.
abstract: The oxidation of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) by persulfate (S(2)O(8)(2-)) activated with heat, Fe(2+), and zero-valent iron (Fe(0)) was investigated via batch experiments. It was hypothesized that elevated temperature and the addition of Fe(2+) or Fe(0) into a persulfate-water system could enhance the oxidation of PVA by activated persulfate. Increasing the temperature from 20 to 60 degrees C or 80 degrees C accelerated the oxidation rate of PVA, which achieved complete oxidation in 30 and 10 min, respectively. At 20 degrees C, the addition of Fe(2+) or Fe(0) to the persulfate-water system significantly enhanced the oxidation of PVA. The optimal persulfate-to-Fe(2+) or Fe(0) molar ratio was found to be 1:1. Complete oxidation of PVA was obtained by Fe(0)-activated persulfate in 2h. Synergistic activation of persulfate by heat and Fe(2+) or Fe(0) was also shown to enhance the oxidation of PVA in the persulfate-water system. By using GC-MS analysis, an oxidation product of PVA was identified as vinyl acetic acid (C(4)H(6)O(2)), which is readily biodegradable. Our results suggest that the oxidative treatment of PVA by activated persulfate is a viable option for the pretreatment of PVA-laden wastewater to enhance its biodegradability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Ulsan, Ulsan, South Korea. quartzoh@ulsan.ac.kr
authors.forename: Seok-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Hyeong-Woo
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jun-Mo
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Hung-Suck
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Chohee
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yoon
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007220:Industrial Waste; D007501:Iron; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol / Q000737:chemistry*; D013431:Sulfates / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature; D014753:Vinyl Compounds; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D005296:Ferrous Compounds; D007220:Industrial Waste; D013431:Sulfates; D014753:Vinyl Compounds; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol; D007501:Iron; C011566:vinyl acetate