Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are currently being used as efficient water treatment methods. In this work, we examine the use of thermally activated persulfate (TAP) as one of the most powerful AOPs for the treatment of pharmaceutical-containing effluents. Pilot experiments were carried out on Naproxen solutions and effect of experimental conditions (e.g. additives, matrix) was assessed so as to improve the reaction stoichiometric efficiency. A comparative kinetics study is provided for the removal of NAP versus work previously published however using other classes of pharmaceuticals. Activation energy (Ea) calculated was found to be 155.03 (�26.4) kJ mol-1 K-1. The best degradation rate observed was at 70�C and found to be equal to 1.286�10-4 mM min-1. Furthermore experiments were not only performed with ultra-pure water, but were also conducted using hospital effluents collected from the largest hospital in Beirut, and spiked with NAP solution (50 �M). Results showed full mineralization of the pharmaceutical effluent that was achieved and monitored via total organic carbon (TOC) analysis. This study also sheds some perspective on the evolution and degradation of NAP transformation products. This study demonstrated once more that TAP is a valid and efficient method to be used for removal of pharmaceuticals from water and sewage water.

Naproxen abatement by thermally activated persulfate: Application to hospital effluents

248th National Meeting (2014)

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