Treatment of 2-chlorophenol aqueous solutions by wet oxidation

In the present work, the wet oxidation (WO) of 2-chlorophenol (2-CP) was studied in aqueous solutions, in a high-pressure agitated autoclave reactor. Specifically, the effect of temperature (160-190 degrees C), oxygen partial pressure (5-40 bar) and 2-CP initial concentration (250-1500 mg L-1) was examined. The process was attended via total organic carbon (TOC), 2-CP, chloride ion, acetic acid, formic acid and pH measurements. Significant rates of 2-CP disappearance and TOC removal were achieved above 170 degrees C. A decrease in 2-CP initial concentration below 1000 mg L-1 resulted in a dramatic decrease in the TOC removal achieved, whereas an increase in oxygen partial pressure enhanced greatly the decontamination of the 2-CP aqueous solution, especially from 10 to 20 bar. Much attention was given on the chloride ion removal from the phenolic ring in order to attend the dechlorination of 2-CP during WO. In the WO process, the majority of chloride ions were detached from organic compounds. Finally, a parallel and in series reaction scheme has been proposed for the interpretation of the experimental results. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.