Ferrioxalate-assisted solar photo-Fenton degradation of a herbicide at pH conditions close to neutrality

The solar photo-Fenton degradation of the herbicide 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) in aqueous solution at a natural pH (pH = 5) using ferrioxalate as iron source was investigated. The kinetic model proposed and validated in a previous contribution was used to predict the reactants concentrations during the oxidation process in a non-concentrating pilot-plant solar reactor. The effects of hydrogen peroxide to 2,4-D initial concentration ratios (R), temperature, and radiation levels were studied. Furthermore, the spectral UV/visible and broadband solar radiation fluxes incident on the reactor window were evaluated by the Simple Model for the Atmospheric Radiative Transfer of Sunshine (SMARTS2) code. The complete destruction of 2,4-D and its main intermediate 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) was achieved in all the experimental runs in only 90 and 120 min of reaction, respectively. In agreement with these results, a reduction of toxicity in the system (expressed as % of inhibition of Vibrio fischeri) for longer times to 90 min of reaction was attained. It is important to emphasize the good agreement between kinetic model results and experimental data obtained.