Degradation of ibuprofen by photo-based advanced oxidation processes: exploring methods of activation and related reaction routes

Several homogeneous photo-based advanced oxidation processes-namely photolysis, photo-oxidation, and photo-Fenton oxidation—were investigated for the elimination of ibuprofen in water. The effects several operating parameters, such as lamp type (low or medium pressure mercury, xenon-arc), concentration hydrogen peroxide (0.5 to 7 times stoichiometric amount required mineralization), Fenton reagent, were quantified. Photo-Fenton was also combined with low-frequency sonication investigate possible synergistic interactions. Ibuprofen degradation under ultraviolet photolysis ultraviolet/hydrogen followed pseudo-first-order kinetics respect pollutant apparent rate constant increased power (6–10 W) oxidant concentration. light (L1 lamp, 254 nm, 6 visible (L2 360–740 150 led complete removal after 3 h, but mineralization yield L1/Fenton process (82%) higher than that L2/Fenton (59%) because former. Coupling improved molecule at low reagent concentration, beneficial effect ultrasound on ferrous iron regeneration vanished when molar ratio close 1. An overall reaction scheme is proposed based transformation products detected during these processes.