Organic contaminants can be oxidized rapidly in the permanganate/bisulfite (PM/BS) process due to the generation of Mn(III)aq. However, the influence of O2 and its role in contaminants degradation in the PM/BS process are poorly understood. Thus, the influence of O2 concentration on phenol removal was quantified and isotopic oxygen tracers (18O-labeled water and 18O2) were employed to further unravel the mechanisms of PM/BS process. The introduction of O2 to PM/BS process appreciably improved phenol oxidation. Under oxic conditions the oxidation products of bisulfite included SO42- and HSO5- while SO42- was the single stable oxidation product under anaerobic conditions. The oxygen isotope labeling experiments confirmed that HSO5- originated from the oxidation of SO3●- by O2 to SO5●- and the followed reduction of SO5●- by HSO3-. 18O incorporated in sulfate from H218O arose from the oxygen isotope exchange between bisulfite species and water which was rapid at circum-neutral pH conditions. Incorporation of oxygen isotope from H218O to MnO2 due to the disproportionation of Mn(III)aq was observed, which verified the generation of Mn(III)aq in PM/BS process. The critical influence of O2 on PM/BS process was mainly associated with rapid oxidation of SO3●- by O2 to SO5●-, which otherwise competed with target contaminants for Mn(III)aq. Oxygen from H2O and/or O2 can also be incorporated in the degradation products of organics in PM/BS process.

Critical role of oxygen for the rapid degradation of organic contaminants in permanganate/bisulfite process

256th National Meeting (2018)

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