CHEMICAL OXIDATION OF BTX USING FENTONS REAGENT

Fenton's reagent has proven to be an economically feasible and effective oxidant to destruct an extensive variety of hazardous wastes. In this work, benzene, toluene and xylene (BTX) were selected as model compounds subjected to oxidation using Fenton's reagent under batch conditions. Various factors deemed critical in optimizing the oxidation of organics were studied. Test results indicated that BTX can be effectively oxidized in aqueous solutions with Fenton's reagent. At a H2O2 : BTX: Fe+2 ratio of 12 : 1 : 60 (mg/L), the dissolved BTX can be completely removed in a period less than ten minutes. A rate equation was derived for predicting the residual concentration of BTX in terms of the contact time.