Effects of advanced ultraviolet/H2O2 treatment on oxidation of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate in detergent wastewater

In developing countries with inadequate municipal sewage systems, untreated domestic wastewater is discharged into the environment; this worsens environmental pollution. Detergents in domestic wastewater are difficult to manage. Here, we investigated the effects of the ultraviolet/H2O2 advanced oxidation process on the degradation of linear alkylbenzene sulfonate (LAS) (a very persistent chem-ical in detergents). The advanced oxidation process degraded LAS in pure water, powder, liquid, and cream detergents; the degradation rates were 3.426, 3.896, 2.504, and 0.913 cm2/J, respectively, indicating that degradation efficiency greatly varied according to detergent ingredients. Both the extent of ultraviolet absorbance and the concentrations of radical scavengers influenced degrada-tion efficiency. In addition, changes in solution properties before and after attainment of the critical micelle concentration affected degradation.