Cosmetic wastewater treatment using the Fenton, Photo-Fenton and H₂O₂/UV processes

Abstract

Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs), such as the Fenton, photo-Fenton and H₂O₂/UV processes, have been investigated for the treatment of cosmetic wastewaters that were previously coagulated by FeCl₃. The Photo-Fenton process at pH 3.0 with 1000/100 mg L⁻¹ H₂O₂/Fe²⁺ was the most effective (74.0% Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) removal). The Fenton process with 1200/500 mg L⁻¹ H₂O₂/Fe²⁺ achieved a COD removal of 72.0%, and the H₂O₂/UV process achieved a COD removal of 47.0%. Spreading the H₂O₂ doses over time to obtain optimal conditions did not improve COD removal. The kinetics of the Fenton and photo-Fenton processes may be described by the following equation: d[COD]/dt = -a[COD] t^m (t represents time and a and m are constants). The rate of COD removal by the H₂O₂/UV process may be described by a second-order reaction equation. Head Space, Solid-Phase MicroExtraction, Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) were used to identify 48 substances in precoagulated wastewater. Among these substances, 26 were fragrances. Under optimal AOP conditions, over 99% of the identified substances were removed in 120 min.

Keywords:

• Cosmetic wastewater
• Fenton/photo-Fenton process
• H₂O₂/UV process
• advanced oxidation processes

Additional information

Funding

The authors gratefully acknowledged the financial support provided by the Polish National Science Center (grant no. 7385/B/T02/2011/40 “Chemical pretreatment of effluents from cosmetic industry”).