Kinetics and products of PCB28 degradation through a goethite-catalyzed Fenton-like reaction

Efficiencies of 2,4,4'-trichlorobiphenyl (PCB28) degradation in a goethite-catalyzed Fenton-like system under various conditions were investigated. Up to 99% of PCB28 was degraded in the Fenton-like system after 48 h. The hydroxyl radical was responsible for the degradation of PCB28 at pH 3-7. Degradation of PCB28 and H2O2 followed pseudo-first-order kinetics. The rate of PCB28 degradation decreased when the pH increased from 3 to 7, but increased with increasing concentration of goethite and H. The rate of H2O2 decomposition increased at higher pH and goethite concentration, and decreased at lower H2O2 concentration. The half-lives of 4-chlorobiphenyl, 4,4'-dichlorobiphenyl, 2,4,4'-trichlorobiphenyl, and 2,2',4,4'-tetrachlorobiphenyl were 1.8, 3.5, 4.1, and 11 h, respectively; therefore, the number of chlorine atoms in the biphenyl molecule determined the chemical reactivity of PCBs. By gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, one monochlorobiphenyl, three dichlorobiphenyl, and two hydroxytrichlorobiphenyl derivatives were identified as major products of PCB28 degradation. The decrease in pH of the reaction mixture after 48 h reaction revealed that acidic products might be formed during degradation. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.