Degradation of Tributylphosphate by UV/H2O2 treatment: Towards the design of a pilot-scale reactor
Résumé
While activated sludge process is the actual treatment for the removal tributylphosphate (TBP) at a few ppm level, many papers have underlined a limited degradation of this recalcitrant molecule, showing the need for alternative processes, such as advanced oxidation. This study aims at determining the full degradation mechanism of TBP by UV/H2O2, with the help of 31P NMR, ionic chromatography and TOC analysis. Moreover the effects of pH, quantity of oxidant and pollutant concentration are addressed following an experimental design methodology. The results of this parametric study show the possibility to treat TBP concentrations up to 600 mg.L-1 with phosphate release and removal of total organic carbon > 90% within one hour. This work also reveals that short carboxylic acids are the main reaction intermediates resulting from the release of the alkyl groups.
