Degradation of 2,4-Dinitrophenol using persulfate activated by Cu2+ in photocatalytic system (UV/SPS/Cu2+) from aqueous solution: optimisation and operational parameters

The present study was developed to model and optimise 2,4-Dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP) degradation from aqueous solution using UVC/SPS/Cu2+ system based on the response surface methodology (RSM) and Box-Behenken (BBD) approach. A high removal efficiency (92.75%) and total organic carbon (TOC) reduction (61.5%) were obtained under optimum conditions, i.e. (Time = 59 min, SPS Con. = 58.74 mg/L, Cu2+ Con = 14.12 mg/L, pH = 11, Initial Con = 6 mg/L). Quenching experiments confirmed that sulphate radicals were predominant radical species for 2-4-DNP degradation. The effect of CO3- on 2,4-DNP degradation was more complicated than other aquatic background anions. Finally, the performance of UVC/SPS/Cu2+ system for 2,4-DNP treatment in different aquatic solutions: tap water, surface runoff, treated and raw wastewater were found to be 89.76%, 81.65%, 51.22% and 75.94%, respectively.

Automated summary

This study developed a UVC/SPS/Cu2+ system to degrade 2,4-Dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP) in aqueous solution and optimized the conditions using RSM and BBD approach. The system achieved high removal efficiency and TOC reduction under optimum conditions. Sulphate radicals were identified as the dominant radical species for 2-4-DNP degradation. The presence of CO3- had a more complicated effect on the degradation process. The system showed varying performance in treating 2,4-DNP in different aquatic solutions.