Abstract
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6V73-4WNXTW3-1&_user=1085808&_coverDate=09%2F30%2F2009&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=gateway&_origin=gateway&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=1674800793&_rerunOrigin=scholar.google&_acct=C000047619&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=1085808&md5=a6a091fbb7c46189d67ca1564cdeacde&searchtype=a; International audience; Degradation of the biorecalcitrant pharmaceutical micropollutant ibuprofen (IBP) was carried out by means of several advanced oxidation hybrid configurations. TiO2 photocatalysis, photo-Fenton and sonolysis – all of them under solar simulated illumination – were tested in the hybrid systems: sonophoto-Fenton (FS), sonophotocatalysis (TS) and TiO2/Fe2+/sonolysis (TFS). In the case of the sonophoto-Fenton process, the IBP degradation (95%) and mineralization (60%) were attained with photo-Fenton (FH). The presence of ultrasonic irradiation slightly improves the iron catalytic activity. On the other hand, total removal of IBP and elimination of more than 50% of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were observed by photocatalysis with TiO2 in the presence of ultrasound irradiation (TS). In contrast only 26% of mineralization was observed by photocatalysis with H2O2 (TH) in the absence of ultrasound irradiation. Additional results showed that, in the TFS system, 92% of DOC removal and complete degradation of IBP were obtained within 240 min of treatment. The advanced oxidation hybrid systems seems to be a promising alternative for full elimination/mineralization for the recalcitrant micro-contaminant IBP.