Heterogeneous photocatalytic degradation and mineralization of 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D): Its performance, kinetics, and economic analysis

Abstract

The photocatalytic degradation and mineralization of commercial solution of 2,4-dichlorophenoxy-acetic acid (2,4-D) was carried out by UVA/P25 TiO 2 and UVA/P25 TiO 2 /H 2 O 2 oxidation processes under batch-mode conditions. In UVA + TiO 2 photocatalysis (TiO 2 1.5 gL −1 , pH 5, initial 2,4-D 25 mg L −1 ), 97.47% ± 0.27% degradation, 39.89% ± 3.42% mineralization, and 65.52% ± 4.88% oxidation were achieved in 180 min, and in UVA +TiO 2 + H 2 O 2 photocatalysis (TiO 2 1.5 g L −1 , pH 5, initial 2,4-D 25 mg L −1 , H 2 O 2 150 mg L −1 ), 99.74% ± 0.08% degradation, 55.99% ± 2.67% mineralization, and 82.49% ± 1.90% oxidation were obtained in 180 min. The pseudo-first-order kinetic model fitted the experimental data well, and the photocatalytic degradation process was explained by the modified L–H model; k c and K LH were 1.293 mg L −1 min −1 and 0.232 L mg −1 , respectively. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy spectra and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis indicated degradation of organic bonds of the herbicide and adsorption of 2,4-D particles onto the TiO 2 catalyst during 24-h experiments. Moreover, the dependence of k app on the half-life time was determined by calculating the electrical energy per order (E EO ). UVA/TiO 2 /H 2 O 2 photocatalysis may be applied as a pretreatment to 2,4-D herbicide wastewater at a pH of 5 for biological treatment.