Activation of sodium percarbonate with ferrous ions for degradation of chlorobenzene in aqueous solution: mechanism, pathway and comparison with hydrogen peroxide

Sodium percarbonate (SPC) could be applied as a strong oxidant to degrade organic compounds activated by transition metals. In this study, the degradation performance of chlorobenzene (CB) in the Fe2+-catalysed SPC system was investigated at different Fe2+ and SPC concentrations and pH conditions. Fe2+/Fe3+ conversion was also studied, and the SPC system was compared with the H2O2 and H2O2/Na2CO3 systems. Free radicals were identified through scavenging tests and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) experiments, and the reaction intermediates and by-products were determined as well. The results show that CB was completely removed when the molar concentration ratio of Fe2+/SPC/CB was 8 : 8 : 1 and that the decomposition of CB increased as the initial Fe2+/SPC dosage increased. The optimal molar concentration of Fe2+/SPC/CB was 2 : 1 : 1, and the degradation rate was inhibited when increasing or decreasing Fe2+ or SPC. CB degradation was not significantly affected by variation of initial pH, and the variation of pH during the degradation process corresponded well with the degree of Fe2+ to Fe3+ conversion and the formation of (OH)-O-center dot. It was confirmed that (OH)-O-center dot, O-2(center dot-) and O-1(2) participate in the degradation process. Moreover, not all the (OH)-O-center dot takes part in the degradation process, as some transforms into O-2(center dot-) and O-1(2). The same degradation efficiency was obtained when replacing SPC by equal stoichiometric amounts of H2O2, compared with inhibition with the addition of Na2CO3. Further, a likely degradation pathway for CB is proposed based on the identified products. These results show that the Fe2+/SPC system can form the basis of a promising technology for the remediation of CB-contaminated groundwater.