Degradation of nicosulfuron using fenton and fenton-like reactions

• Main Authors: Dugandžić Ana M., Tomašević Anđelka V., Dabić Dunja M., Šekuljica Nataša Ž., Radišić Marina M., Petrović Slobodan D., Mijin Dušan Ž.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Association of the Chemical Engineers of Serbia 2018-01-01
• Series: Chemical Industry and Chemical Engineering Quarterly
• Subjects: iron salt; hydrogen peroxide; microwaves; phytoxicity; acute toxicity
• Online Access: http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/1451-9372/2018/1451-93721700032D.pdf

Nicosulfuron, a sulfonylurea herbicide, was subjected to different Fenton reactions at pH of a nicosulfuron aqueous solution (pH 5). Usually, the optimal pH for the Fenton reaction is between 3 and 4, but the addition of acids is not environmentally acceptable. This is the reason why the reactions were performed at a higher pH value than usual. So, classical Fenton and Fenton-like reactions were applied as well as photo-Fenton and photo-Fenton-like reactions. In addition, microwave Fenton and Fenton-like reactions were used in nicosulfuron degradation. Influences of Fe2+ and Fe3+ concentrations, as well as hydrogen peroxide concentrations, were studied. The Fenton reaction was much faster and more efficient than the Fenton-like reaction, while the photo- Fenton reaction proceeded much faster and more efficiently than the Fenton reaction. The microwave-Fenton and microwave-Fenton-like reactions proceeded with increased efficiency in comparison to the Fenton and Fenton-like reactions. The phytotoxicity and acute toxicity of the reaction products of nicosulfuron oxidation by the photo-Fenton reaction were analyzed. The toxicity testing of nicosulfuron treatment by photo-Fenton process showed a decrease in phytotoxicity, while the acute toxicity tests showed that the samples after treatment had lower toxicity. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. 172013, Grant no. 172007 and Grant no. III 46008]