Optimization P-nitrotoluene Removal Efficiency in Aqueous Solution by Photocatalyticozonation Reaction

Lina Shaheed  Ahmed; Hossein Mazaheri; Ali Hassani

doi:10.52716/jprs.v15i4.1073

Authors

Lina Shaheed Ahmed Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Islamic Azad University, Arak Branch, Arak, Iran
Hossein Mazaheri Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Islamic Azad University, Arak Branch, Arak, Iran
Ali Hassani Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Islamic Azad University, Arak Branch, Arak, Iran

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52716/jprs.v15i4.1073

Keywords:

ANOVA, CCRD, Ozonation, P-Nitrotoluene, Photocatalytic, RSM

Abstract

p-Nitrotoluene (PNT) is a hazardous material suspected of causing hormone disruption. Its degradation in aqueous solutions was studied using photochemical ozonation with ZnO as a catalyst and UV radiation. Various factors, including PNT concentration, ZnO concentration, pH, ozone flow rate, and UV exposure time, were varied in laboratory experiments. Response surface methodology (SRM) and central composite rotatable design (CCRD) were used to optimize the process. The PNT removal efficiency ranged from 47% to 99.5%, with a high correlation (R² = 0.9558). Significant factors included UV exposure time, pH, ozone flow rate, ZnO concentration, and initial PNT concentration. The maximum removal efficiency was achieved with 76.701 ppm of initial PNT, 0.16 g/l ZnO, pH 8.235, 3.516 ozone flow rate, and 99.548 minutes of UV exposure.

References

F. J. Beltrán, J. M. Encinar, and M. A. Alonso, "Nitroaromatic hydrocarbon ozonation in water. 1. Single ozonation", Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, vol. 37, no. 1, pp. 25-31, 1998. https://doi.org/10.1021/ie9704253.

G. E. Diwani, S. E. Rafie, and S. Hawash, "Degradation of 2, 4, 6-trinitotoluene in aqueous solution by ozonation and multi-stage ozonation biological treatment", International Journal of Environmental Science & Technology, vol. 6, pp. 619-628, 2009. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03326102.

O. A. Sadik and D. M. Witt, "Peer reviewed: Monitoring endocrine-disrupting chemicals", Environmental Science & Technology, vol. 33, no. 17, pp. 368A-374A, 1999. https://doi.org/10.1021/es992961n.

Z. Li, P. Shea, and S. Comfort, "Nitrotoluene destruction by UV-catalyzed Fenton oxidation", Chemosphere, vol. 36, no. 8, pp. 1849-1865, 1998. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0045-6535(97)10073-X.

J. Jing, W. Li, A. Boyd, Y. Zhang, V. L. Colvin, and W. Y. William, "Photocatalytic degradation of quinoline in aqueous TiO2 suspension", Journal of Hazardous Materials, vol. 237-238, pp. 247-255, 2012. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2012.08.037.

S. K. Walia, S. Ali-Sadat, and G. R. Chaudhry, "Influence of nitro group on biotransformation of nitrotoluenes in Pseudomonas putida strain OU83", Pesticide Biochemistry and Physiology, vol. 76, no. 3, pp. 73-81, 2003. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0048-3575(03)00068-3.

S. Song, M. Xia, Z. He, H. Ying, B. Lü, and J. Chen, "Degradation of p-nitrotoluene in aqueous solution by ozonation combined with sonolysis", Journal of Hazardous Materials, vol. 144, no. 1-2, pp. 532-537, 2007. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2006.10.067.

S. Song, H. Ying, Z. He, and J. Chen, "Mechanism of decolorization and degradation of CI Direct Red 23 by ozonation combined with sonolysis", Chemosphere, vol. 66, no. 9, pp. 1782-1788, 2007. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2006.07.090.

H. W. Prengle, "Experimental rate constants and reactor considerations for the destruction of micropollutants and trihalomethane precursors by ozone with ultraviolet radiation", Environmental Science & Technology, vol. 17, no. 12, pp. 743-747, 1983. https://doi.org/10.1021/es00118a010.

Y.-H. Chen, C. Y. Chang, S. F. Huang, N. C. Shang, C. Y. Chiu, Y. H. Yu, P. C. Chiang, J. L. Shie, and C. S. Chiou, "Decomposition of 2-naphthalenesulfonate in electroplating solution by ozonation with UV radiation", Journal of Hazardous Materials, vol. 118, no. 1-3, pp. 177-183, 2005. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2004.10.018.

B. Kasprzyk-Hordern, M. Ziółek, and J. Nawrocki, "Catalytic ozonation and methods of enhancing molecular ozone reactions in water treatment", Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, vol. 46, no. 4, pp. 639-669, 2003. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0926-3373(03)00326-6.

Y. Jiang, C. Pétrier, and T. D. Waite, "Effect of pH on the ultrasonic degradation of ionic aromatic compounds in aqueous solution", Ultrasonics Sonochemistry, vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 163-168, 2002. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1350-4177(01)00114-6.

J. Wu, M. A. Eiteman, and S. E. Law, "Evaluation of membrane filtration and ozonation processes for treatment of reactive-dye wastewater", Journal of Environmental Engineering, vol. 124, no. 3, pp. 272-277, 1998. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9372(1998)124:3(272).

D. C. Montgomery, E. A. Peck, and G. G. Vining, “Design and Analysis of Experiments”, 11th ed., John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, NJ, USA, 2021.

R. H. Myers, D. C. Montgomery, and C. M. Anderson-Cook, “Response Surface Methodology: Process and Product Optimization Using Designed Experiments”, 5th ed., John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, NJ, USA, 2022.

X. Li, Y. Zhang, and L. Wang, "Optimization of photocatalytic degradation of pharmaceutical pollutants using RSM," Journal of Environmental Science and Technology, vol. 57, no. 3, pp. 2456–2468, 2023.

H. S. Fogler, “Elements of Chemical Reaction Engineering”, Pearson Educacion, 2016.

E. B. Nauman, “Chemical Reactor Design, Optimization, and Scaleup”, John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, NJ, USA, 2008.

A. H. Sulaymon, and H. H. Alwan, "Performance of Mixing Granules Solid Materials by Fluidization", Iraqi Journal of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, vol. 5, no. 4, pp. 35-40, 2004. https://doi.org/10.31699/IJCPE.2004.4.6.

H. Mazaheri, K. T. Lee, S. Bhatia, and A. R. Mohamed, "Subcritical water liquefaction of oil palm fruit press fiber in the presence of sodium hydroxide: an optimisation study using response surface methodology", Bioresource Technology, vol. 101, no. 23, pp. 9335-9341, 2010. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2010.07.004.