The Use of Sodium Percarbonate in the Fenton Reaction for the PAHs Oxidation

The aim of the paper was to determine the effectiveness of the removal of 4, 5and 6 - ring PAHs from coking wastewater using sodium percarbonate Na₂CO₃∙1,5 H₂O₂ and iron sulphate in acid condition. The samples were exposing to ultraviolet rays. The source of UV-C radiation was a lamp emitting a wave of light with a length of λ = 264 nm, placed directly above the layer of the samples wastewater. The sodium percarbonate Na₂CO₃ 1.5 H₂O₂ doses were determined on the basis of stoichiometric calculation. Ratio of iron ions to the hydrogen peroxide released in reaction was: 0.5; 0.4; 0.3; 0.2; 0.1. Before and after the oxidation process, COD and TOC value were determined and as well as concentrations of selected PAHs. The total concentration of tested PAHs before oxidation reached the value of 995 μg/L. The average content of organic pollutants determined by the chemical oxygen demand (COD) was 538 mg/L, while the average content of Total organic carbon (TOC) was 180 mg/L. The use of sodium percarbonate caused the oxidation of organic pollutants and lowering of COD and TOC in the following ranges: 22-46% and 10-30%. For individual PAHs the degradation efficiency was in the ranged from 95% to 99.9%. The degradation efficiency of 4 ring hydrocarbons caused 98% and 5 and 6 ring of hydrocarbons was 98.7% and 99.4%, respectively.