Kinetic study of Imidacloprid removal by advanced oxidation based on photo‐Fenton process

Abstract

In this paper, the kinetics of Imidacloprid removal from aqueous solution by photo‐Fenton processes is presented. Experiments were conducted in batch mode, using a two litre jacketed Pyrex glass reactor, fitted with magnetic stirring, and six 6 W black light fluorescent lamps (λmax 365 nm), arranged in parallel to the reactor axis. The effect of initial Fe(II) concentration (<0.7 mM), incident photon flux (0 to 5·10⁻⁶ Einstein s⁻¹), and temperature (288–313K) on the rate of Imidacloprid oxidation is also assessed. When Fe(II) is present as the initial source of iron ions, a first stage of almost instantaneous Imidacloprid removal is observed, followed by a slower process. A simplified kinetic model is described and fitted well experimental data, and could be used for process design, optimization, and control purposes.

Keywords:

• Imidacloprid
• photo‐Fenton
• process kinetics
• modelling

Acknowledgements

This research was conducted with the financial support of Fondecyt, Project 1060892.