Hydrogen peroxide and persulfate activation using UVA-UVB radiation: Degradation of estrogenic compounds and application in sewage treatment plant waters

In the present work, degradation of three estrogens (17?-estradiol (E2), estrone (E1) and 17?-ethinylestradiol (EE2)) was investigated under photoactivation hydrogen peroxide persulfate. Lab-scale irradiation experiments showed that both UVA UVB radiations are able to photoactivate oxidant precursors, although is more efficient generate radicals therefore degrade targets. The efficiency precursors showing higher in system with pseudo-first order rate constants second between hydroxyl or sulfate were measured. evaluate process real treatment conditions, spiked into sewage plant effluent studied. Measurements radical organic matter by laser flash photolysis allowed understand involved quenching mechanisms. A Yeast Estrogen Screen (YES) assay used follow decrease estrogenic activity during estrogen degradation. This permitted ensure studied processes not only but also remove their activity.