Nitroaromatic compounds (NACs) are recalcitrant organics that cause great ecotoxicological concerns. Sulfate radical-based advanced oxidation processes (SR-AOPs) are promising environmental remediation and wastewater treatment technologies. The degradation of nitrobenzene and nitrophenol by sulfate radicals generated by thermal activation of persulfate resulted in the formation of polynitrated phenolic compounds including 2,4-dinitrophenol (2,4-DNP), 2,6-dinitrophenol (2,6-DNP), and 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (2,4,6-TNP) as well as their coupling products. The formation of polynitrated phenols suggests that both denitration and renitration processes occurred during sulfate radical-based oxidation of NACs. Nitration agent (i.e., nitrogen dioxide radical) arising from the conversion of nitro group upon sulfate radical attack is proposed to play an important role in the formation of polynitrated compounds. Since polynitrated aromatics are more persistent and mutagenic, particular attention should be paid to their formation during sulfate radical-based oxidation processes.

Denitration and renitration processes in sulfate radical-based oxidation of nitroaromatic compounds

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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