title: Oxidation of nonylphenol ethoxylates in aqueous solution by UV-C photolysis, H2O2/UV-C, Fenton and photo-Fenton processes: are these processes toxicologically safe?
abstract: UV-C, H2O2/UV-C, Fenton and photo-Fenton treatment of a nonylphenol polyethoxylate (NP-10) were comparatively studied, primarily focusing on the acute toxicity of degradation products. Formic, acetic and oxalic acids were all identified as the degradation products of NP-10; however, the sole common carboxylic acid was found to be formic acid for the studied treatment processes. The percent relative inhibition towards Vibrio fischeri increased from 9% to 33% and 24% after 120 min-UV-C and H2O2/UV-C treatment, respectively. Complete NP-10 and 70% of its total organic carbon (TOC) content was removed by the photo-Fenton process, which ensured the fastest removal rates and lowest inhibitory effect (8% after 120 min treatment). The acute toxicity pattern being observed during H2O2/UV-C and photo-Fenton treatment positively correlated with temporal evolution of the identified carboxylic acids, whereas unidentified oxidation products were the most likely origin of the acute toxicity in UV-C photolysis.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Sciences, Bogazici University, 34342 Bebek, Istanbul, Turkey E-mail: akin.karci@boun.edu.tr.
authors.forename: Akin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karci
authors.forename: Idil
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Arslan-Alaton
authors.forename: Miray
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bekbolet
mesh_terms: D048908:Aliivibrio fischeri / Q000187:drug effects; D002264:Carboxylic Acids / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000737:chemistry; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010777:Photochemistry / Q000379:methods*; D010782:Photolysis; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000737:chemistry*; D012996:Solutions; D023382:Toxicity Tests, Acute; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D002264:Carboxylic Acids; D012996:Solutions; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C404762:polyoxyethylene(10)nonylphenyl ether; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide