Degradation of the herbicide 2,4-DP by anodic oxidation, electro-Fenton and photoelectro-Fenton using platinum and boron-doped diamond anodes

This paper reports the degradation of 2,4-DP (2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)-propionic acid) solutions of pH 3.0 by environmentally friendly electrochemical methods such as anodic oxidation, electro-Fenton and photoelectro-Fenton with a Pt or boron-doped diamond (BDD) anode. In the two latter techniques an O(2)-diffusion cathode was used and 1.0mM Fe(2+) was added to the solution to give hydroxyl radical (*OH) from Fenton's reaction between Fe(2+) and H(2)O(2) generated at the cathode. All treatments with BDD are viable to decontaminate acidic wastewaters containing 2,4-DP since they give complete mineralization, with loss of chloride ion, at high current due to the great production of oxidant *OH at the BDD surface favoring the destruction of final carboxylic acids. *OH formed from Fenton's reaction destroys more rapidly aromatic products, making the electro-Fenton and photoelectro-Fenton processes much more efficient than anodic oxidation. UVA light in photoelectro-Fenton with BDD has little effect on the degradation rate of pollutants. The comparative procedures with Pt lead to slower decontamination because of the lower oxidizing power of this anode. The effect of current on the degradation rate and efficiency of all methods is studied. The 2,4-DP decay always follows a pseudo-first-order kinetics. Chlorohydroquinone, chloro-p-benzoquinone and maleic, fumaric, malic, lactic, pyruvic, acetic, formic and oxalic acids are detected as products by chromatographic techniques. A general sequence accounting for by the reaction of all these intermediates with the different oxidizing agents is proposed.     

Mineralization of the biocide chloroxylenol by electrochemical advanced oxidation processes

Electrochemical advanced oxidation processes (EAOPs) are environmentally friendly methods based on the destruction of organic pollutants in wastewaters with in situ electrogenerated hydroxyl radical. This species is formed in anodic oxidation (AO) from water oxidation at the anode and in indirect electro-oxidation methods like electro-Fenton (EF) and photoelectro-Fenton (PEF) also from reaction between catalytic Fe2+ and H2O2 continuously produced at the O2-diffusion cathode. The PEF method involves the irradiation of the treated solution with UVA light to enhance the photolysis of organics including Fe(III) complexes. In this work, the oxidation power of such EAOPs to decontaminate synthetic wastewaters of the biocide chloroxylenol (4-chloro-3,5-dimethylphenol) at pH 3.0 is comparatively examined with an undivided electrolytic cell containing a Pt or boron-doped diamond (BDD) anode and a stainless steel or O2-diffusion cathode. The initial chlorine is released as Cl(-) ion, which remains stable in the medium using Pt or is oxidized to Cl2 on BDD. The biocide solutions can be completely decontaminated using AO with a BDD anode, as well as PEF with a Pt or BDD anode. The PEF procedure with a BDD anode is the most powerful method leading to total mineralization in about 300 min, practically independent of current density. When current density rises, the degradation rate of processes increases, but they become less efficient due to the larger enhancement of waste reactions of oxidants. Chloroxylenol is much more rapidly removed in EF and PEF than in AO. 2,6-dimethylhydroquinone, 2,6-dimethyl-p-benzoquinone and 3,5-dimethyl-2-hydroxy-p-benzoquinone are identified as aromatic by-products, and maleic, malonic, pyruvic, acetic and oxalic acids are found as generated carboxylic acids. A general pathway for chloroxylenol mineralization by all EAOPs including the above by-products is proposed.     

Electrochemical degradation of chlorophenoxy and chlorobenzoic herbicides in acidic aqueous medium by the peroxi-coagulation method

The degradation of 4-chlorophenoxyacetic acid (4-CPA), 4-chloro-2-methylphenoxyacetic acid (MCPA), 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T) as chlorophenoxy herbicides, as well as of 3,6-dichloro-2-methoxybenzoic acid (dicamba) as chlorobenzoic herbicide, has been studied by peroxi-coagulation. This electrochemical method yields a very effective depollution of all compounds in acidic aqueous medium of pH 3.0 working under pH regulation, since they are oxidized with hydroxyl radicals produced from Fenton's reaction between Fe(2+) and H(2)O(2) generated by the corresponding Fe anode and O(2)-diffusion cathode. Their products can then be removed by mineralization or coagulation with the Fe(OH)(3) precipitate formed. Both degradative paths compete at low currents, but coagulation predominates at high currents. The peroxi-coagulation process of dicamba at I>or=300 mA leads to more than 90% of coagulation, being much more efficient than its comparative electro-Fenton treatment with a Pt anode and 1 mM Fe(2+), where only mineralization takes place. For the chlorophenoxy compounds, electro-Fenton gives a slightly lower depollution than peroxi-coagulation, because more easily oxidable products are produced. Oxidation of chlorinated products during peroxi-coagulation is accompanied by the release of chloride ion to the solution. The efficiency of this method decreases with increasing electrolysis time and current. The decay of all herbicides follows a pseudo-first-order reaction, with a similar constant rate for 4-CPA, MCPA, 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T, and a higher value for dicamba.     

Removal of propham from water by using electro-Fenton technology: kinetics and mechanism

The removal of a carbamate herbicide, propham, from aqueous solution has been carried out by the electro-Fenton process. Hydroxyl radical, a strong oxidizing agent, was generated catalytically and used for the oxidation of propham aqueous solutions. The degradation kinetics of propham evidenced a pseudo-first order degradation. The absolute rate constant of second order reaction kinetics between propham and ()OH was determined as (2.2+/-0.10)x10(9)m(-1)s(-1). The mineralization of propham was followed by the organic carbon (TOC) removal. The optimal Fe(3+) concentration was found as 0.5mM at 300mA. The 94% of initial TOC of 0.25mM propham solution was removed in 8h at the optimal conditions by using the cathode area to solution volume ratio of 3.33dm(-1). The maximum mineralization current efficiency values were obtained at 60mA in the presence of 0.5mM Fe(3+). During the electro-Fenton treatment, several degradation products were formed. These intermediates were identified by using high performance liquid chromatography, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and ion chromatography analysis. The identified by-products allowed proposing a pathway for the propham mineralization.     

Efficient removal of triphenylmethane dyes from aqueous medium by in situ electrogenerated Fenton's reagent at carbon-felt cathode

Fenton's reagent (Fe2+ +H2O2) has been electrogenerated in situ in an undivided electrolytic cell from the effective reduction of Fe3+ and O2 at carbon-felt cathode for the treatment of aqueous solutions of four triphenylmethane dyes (TPMs), namely malachite green (MG), crystal violet (CV), methyl green (MeG) and fast green FCF (FCF), at pH 3.0 and room temperature. MG has been used as a model among them to study the influence of some experimental parameters on the decay kinetics, COD removal and current efficiency. The results in such electro-Fenton system are explained in terms of the many parasitic reactions involving .OH. Higher efficiency values are obtained with rising organic content and decreasing applied current. The first stage of the mineralization process, involving aromatic by-products, leads to fast decoloration as well as quick initial COD removal that fit well to a pseudo-first-order kinetics. At prolonged electrolysis time, the mineralization rate and efficiency decrease due to the formation of hardly oxidizable compounds and the enhancement of wasting reactions. Solutions of all four TPMs are quickly degraded following a pseudo-first-order decay kinetics. The absolute rate constant (kTPM) for their reaction with .OH increases in the order MeG相似文献   

Transformation characteristics of refractory pollutants in plugboard wastewater by an optimal electrocoagulation and electro-Fenton process

The treatment of the plugboard wastewater was performed by an optimal electrocoagulation and electro-Fenton. The organic components with suspended fractions accounting for 30% COD were preferably removed via electrocoagulation at initial 5 min. In contrast, the removal efficiency was increased to 76% with the addition of H(2)O(2). The electrogenerated Fe(2+) reacts with H(2)O(2) and leads to the generation of (·)OH, which is responsible for the higher COD removal. However, overdosage H(2)O(2) will consume (·)OH generated in the electro-Fenton process and lead to the low COD removal. The COD removal efficiency decreased with the increased pH. The concentration of Fe(2+) ions was dependent on the solution pH, H(2)O(2) dosage and current density. The changes of organic characteristics in coagulation and oxidation process were differenced and evaluated using gel permeation chromatography, fluorescence excitation-emission scans and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The fraction of the wastewater with aromatic structure and large molecular weight was decomposed into aliphatic structure and small molecular weight fraction in the electro-Fenton process.     

Optimization of photo-Fenton process parameters on carbofuran degradation using central composite design

Carbofuran, one of the most toxic and biorefractory carbamate compounds, is widely used in insecticides in Taiwan (9-18% of total insecticides production per year). In the present study, a central composite design experiment was used to study the effect of photo-Fenton treatment on carbofuran solution and to optimize the process variables such as carbofuran concentration (1-100 mg L(-1)), H(2)O(2) dosage rate (0.25-6 mg L(-1) min(-1)) and Fe(3+) dosage (1-50 mg L(-1)), which influenced the efficiency of carbofuran degradation and mineralization. The results indicated that all the variables investigated in this study had significant roles in the degradation and mineralization of carbofuran in solution. The carbofuran degradation and mineralization efficiencies were increased with increase in H(2)O(2) dosage rate and Fe(3+) dosage, and with decrease in carbofuran concentration. Furthermore, optimum values of both H(2)O(2) dosage rate and Fe(3+) dosage were found to shift to higher values as carbofuran concentration increased. Based on the model obtained in this study, optimum H(2)O(2) dosage rate and Fe(3+) dosage were found to be 4 mg L(-1) min(-1) and 20 mg L(-1), respectively, for 51 mg L(-1) of carbofuran concentration. Under these conditions, carbofuran was completely removed within 30 min and coupled with 78% mineralization at the end of experiment.     

Efficient removal of insecticide “imidacloprid” from water by electrochemical advanced oxidation processes

The oxidative degradation of imidacloprid (ICP) has been carried out by electrochemical advanced oxidation processes (EAOPs), anodic oxidation, and electro-Fenton, in which hydroxyl radicals are generated electrocatalytically. Carbon-felt cathode and platinum or boron-doped diamond (BDD) anodes were used in electrolysis cell. To determine optimum operating conditions, the effects of applied current and catalyst concentration were investigated. The decay of ICP during the oxidative degradation was well fitted to pseudo-first-order reaction kinetics and absolute rate constant of the oxidation of ICP by hydroxyl radicals was found to be k _abs(ICP)?=?1.23?×?10⁹ L mol^?1 s^?1. The results showed that both anodic oxidation and electro-Fenton process with BDD anode exhibited high mineralization efficiency reaching 91 and 94 % total organic carbon (TOC) removal at 2 h, respectively. For Pt-EF process, mineralization efficiency was also obtained as 71 %. The degradation products of ICP were identified and a plausible general oxidation mechanism was proposed. Some of the main reaction intermediates such as 6-chloronicotinic acid, 6-chloronicotinaldehyde, and 6-hydroxynicotinic acid were determined by GC-MS analysis. Before complete mineralization, formic, acetic, oxalic, and glyoxylic acids were identified as end-products. The initial chlorine and organic nitrogen present in ICP were found to be converted to inorganic anions Cl^?, NO₃ ^?, and NH₄ ⁺.     

Degradation of anti-inflammatory drug ketoprofen by electro-oxidation: comparison of electro-Fenton and anodic oxidation processes

The electrochemical degradation of the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug ketoprofen in tap water has been studied using electro-Fenton (EF) and anodic oxidation (AO) processes with platinium (Pt) and boron-doped diamond (BDD) anodes and carbon felt cathode. Fast degradation of the parent drug molecule and its degradation intermediates leading to complete mineralization was achieved by BDD/carbon felt, Pt/carbon felt, and AO with BDD anode. The obtained results showed that oxidative degradation rate of ketoprofen and mineralization of its aqueous solution increased by increasing applied current. Degradation kinetics fitted well to a pseudo-first-order reaction. Absolute rate constant of the oxidation of ketoprofen by electrochemically generated hydroxyl radicals was determined to be (2.8?±?0.1)?×?10⁹ M^?1 s^?1 by using competition kinetic method. Several reaction intermediates such as 3-hydroxybenzoic acid, pyrogallol, catechol, benzophenone, benzoic acid, and hydroquinone were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses. The formation, identification, and evolution of short-chain aliphatic carboxylic acids like formic, acetic, oxalic, glycolic, and glyoxylic acids were monitored with ion exclusion chromatography. Based on the identified aromatic/cyclic intermediates and carboxylic acids as end products before mineralization, a plausible mineralization pathway was proposed. The evolution of the toxicity during treatments was also monitored using Microtox method, showing a faster detoxification with higher applied current values.     

Electro-Fenton degradation of the antibiotic sulfanilamide with Pt/carbon-felt and BDD/carbon-felt cells. Kinetics,reaction intermediates,and toxicity assessment

The degradation of 230 mL of a 0.6-mM sulfanilamide solution in 0.05 M Na₂SO₄ of pH 3.0 has been studied by electro-Fenton process. The electrolytic cell contained either a Pt or boron-doped diamond (BDD) anode and a carbon-felt cathode. Under these conditions, organics are oxidized by hydroxyl radicals formed at the anode surface from water oxidation and in the bulk from Fenton’s reaction between initially added (and then electrochemically regenerated) Fe²⁺ and cathodically generated H₂O₂. From the decay of sulfanilamide concentration determined by reversed-phase liquid chromatography, an optimum Fe²⁺ concentration of 0.20 mM in both cells was found. The drug disappeared more rapidly using BDD than Pt, and, in both cases, it was more quickly removed with raising applied current. Almost total mineralization was achieved using the BDD/carbon-felt cell, whereas the alternative use of Pt anode led to a slightly lower mineralization degree. In both cells, the degradation rate was accelerated at higher current but with the concomitant fall of mineralization current efficiency due to the greater increase in rate of the parasitic reactions of hydroxyl radicals. Reversed-phase liquid chromatography allowed the identification of catechol, resorcinol, hydroquinone, p-benzoquinone, and 1,2,4-trihydroxybenzene as aromatic intermediates, whereas ion exclusion chromatography revealed the formation of malic, maleic, fumaric, acetic, oxalic, formic, and oxamic acids. NH₄ ⁺, NO₃ ^?, and SO₄ ^2? ions were released during the electro-Fenton process. A plausible reaction sequence for sulfanilamide mineralization involving all detected intermediates has been proposed. The toxicity of the solution was assessed from the Vibrio fischeri bacteria luminescence inhibition. Although it acquired its maximum value at short electrolysis time, the solution was completely detoxified at the end of the electro-Fenton treatment, regardless of the anode used.     

Electrochemical combustion of herbicide mecoprop in aqueous medium using a flow reactor with a boron-doped diamond anode

The anodic oxidation of 1.8l of solutions with mecoprop (2-(4-chloro-2-methylphenoxy)-propionic acid or MCPP) up to 0.64 g l(-1) in Na2SO4 as background electrolyte within the pH range 2.0-12.0 has been studied using a flow plant containing a one-compartment filter-press electrolytic reactor with a boron-doped diamond (BDD) anode and a stainless steel cathode, both of 20-cm2 area. Electrolyses carried out in batch under steady conditions and operating at constant current density between 50 and 150 mA cm(-2) always yield complete mineralization due to the great concentration of hydroxyl radical generated at the BDD anode. The degradation rate is practically independent of pH and Na2SO4 concentration, but it becomes faster with increasing MCPP concentration, current density, temperature and liquid flow rate. The effect of these parameters on current efficiency and energy cost has also been investigated. Generated weak oxidants such as H2O2 and peroxodisulfate ion have little influence on the mineralization process. The kinetics for the herbicide decay follows a pseudo first-order reaction with a higher rate constant when current density increases. Aromatic products such as 4-chloro-o-cresol, 2-methylhydroquinone and 2-methyl-p-benzoquinone, and generated carboxylic acids such as maleic, fumaric, lactic, pyruvic, tartronic, acetic and oxalic, have been identified as intermediates by chromatographic techniques. The initial chlorine is completely released in the form of chloride ion, which is slowly oxidized to Cl2 at the BDD anode. A reaction pathway for MCPP mineralization involving all products detected is proposed.     

Influence of oxalic acid formed on the degradation of phenol by Fenton reagent

The objective of this work is to examine the influence of oxalic acid formed on the degradation of phenol by Fenton reagent. Oxalic acid formed at initial stage within 30 min significantly suppresses the reduction of ferric ion, thus terminating degradation reaction. The yield of oxalic acid is dependent on the amount of ferrous ion dosed since the minimal amount of oxalic acid is formed after the degradation reaction terminates. Mineralization of phenol by Fenton reagent stagnates after 120 min under the conditions used in this study. The reason why the mineralization stagnated can be assumed to be following two mechanisms other than the depletion of H₂O₂. In the case where a small amount of ferrous ions is dosed, the reduction of ferric ions is minimal by oxalic acid formed. In the case where a large amount of ferrous ions is dosed, the amount of degradable organic compounds is insufficient owing to preferential conversion to oxalic acid. The mineralization can be enhanced by the intermittent dosing of ferrous ions, which facilitates the suppression of oxalic acid formation during the degradation by Fenton reagent.     

Recent updates on electrochemical degradation of bio-refractory organic pollutants using BDD anode: a mini review

Boron-doped diamond (BDD) is playing an important role in environmental electrochemistry and has been successfully applied to the degradation of various bio-refractory organic pollutants. However, the review concerning recent progress in this research area is still very limited. This mini-review updated recent advances on the removal of three kinds of bio-refractory wastewaters including pharmaceuticals, pesticides, and dyes using BDD electrode. It summarized the important parameters in three electrochemical oxidation processes, i.e., anodic oxidation (AO), electro-Fenton (EF), and photoelectro-Fenton (PEF) and compared their different degradation mechanisms and behaviors. As an attractive improvement of PEF, solar photoelectro-Fenton using sunlight as UV/vis source presented cost-effectiveness, in which the energy consumption for enrofloxacin removal was 0.246 kWh/(g TOC), which was much lower than that of 0.743 and 0.467 kWh/(g TOC) by AO and EF under similar conditions. Finally the existing problems and future prospects in research were suggested.     

Removal of methyl parathion from water by electrochemically generated Fenton's reagent

The electro-Fenton process was used to assess the degradation of methyl parathion (MP) in aqueous solutions. This oxidation process allows the production of hydroxyls radicals which react on the organic compounds, leading to their mineralization. Degradation experiments were performed either in perchloric, sulphuric, hydrochloric and nitric acid media under current controlled electrolysis conditions at different pH. The pH effect as well as the nature of the medium (i.e., the nature of the ions present in medium) on the degradation and mineralization efficiency were studied. The mineralization of the initial pollutant was investigated by total organic carbon measurements which show a complete mineralization at pH 3 in perchloric medium. The absolute rate constant of MP hydroxylation reaction was determined as (4.20+/-0.11)x10(9)M(-1)s(-1). Complete degradation of MP and its metabolites occur in less than 45min. Degradation reaction intermediates such as aromatic compounds, carboxylic acids and inorganic ions were identified and a mineralization pathway is proposed.     

负载TiO2/Fe3+的玻璃纤维反应器光催化苯酚

以玻璃纤维为载体,将TiO2负载到其表面形成了空间玻璃纤维反应器,引入Fe3+作为掺杂改性离子,形成了负载TiO2/Fe3+的空间玻璃纤维光催化反应器,并以高压汞灯为光源进行了光催化降解水中苯酚的实验研究,考察了影响苯酚光催化降解的因素,确定了在UV365～250 W光源照射下,pH为3～5,O2通入量1.0 L/(min.L),反应器内上升流速为0.7 m/min等实验条件下,初始浓度为30 mg/L的苯酚废水经120 min光催化反应后,降解率可达到85%,矿化率可达80%。     

Degradation of Acid Orange 7 by electrochemically generated (*)OH radicals in acidic aqueous medium using a boron-doped diamond or platinum anode: a mechanistic study

A comparative study of the degradation of Acid Orange 7 (AO 7) aqueous solutions in acidic medium of pH 3.0 by electro-Fenton process using Pt or boron-doped diamond (BDD) anode was reported. The oxidative degradation of AO 7 by electrochemically generated hydroxyl radicals follows a pseudo-first order kinetic with a similar rate constant with BDD or Pt anode. The absolute rate constant of the AO 7 hydroxylation reaction was determined as (1.10+/-0.04)x10(10)M(-1)s(-1) by using the competition kinetic method. The comparative study of TOC measurements during electro-Fenton treatment showed a higher mineralization rate with BDD than Pt anode at the first hours of electrolysis because of the higher oxidizing power of this anode. The electro-Fenton degradation of AO 7 was followed by monitoring the formation and evolution of aromatic intermediates which are oxidized to aliphatic carboxylic acids before mineralization (transformation to CO(2) and inorganic ions, i.e. sulphate, nitrate and ammonium). The follow-up of the solution toxicity evolution shows the formation of intermediates more toxic than AO 7 and the connection between toxicity and aromaticity. A mineralization reaction pathway of AO 7 by electro-Fenton degradation involving all the intermediates identified was proposed.     

Degradation and mineralization of sulcotrione and mesotrione in aqueous medium by the electro-Fenton process: a kinetic study

Introduction

The degradation and mineralization of two triketone (TRK) herbicides, including sulcotrione and mesotrione, by the electro-Fenton process (electro-Fenton using Pt anode (EF-Pt), electro-Fenton with BDD anode (EF-BDD) and anodic oxidation with BDD anode) were investigated in acidic aqueous medium.

Methods

The reactivity of both herbicides toward hydroxyl radicals was found to depend on the electron-withdrawing effect of the aromatic chlorine or nitro substituents. The degradation of sulcotrione and mesotrione obeyed apparent first-order reaction kinetics, and their absolute rate constants with hydroxyl radicals at pH?3.0 were determined by the competitive kinetics method.

Results and discussion

The hydroxylation absolute rate constant (k _abs) values of both TRK herbicides ranged from 8.20?×?10⁸ (sulcotrione) to 1.01?×?10⁹ (mesotrione) L?mol^?1?s^?1, whereas those of the TRK main cyclic or aromatic by-products, namely cyclohexane 1,3-dione , (2-chloro-4-methylsulphonyl) benzoic acid and 4-(methylsulphonyl)-2-nitrobenzoic acid, comprised between 5.90?×?10⁸ and 3.29?×?10⁹?L?mol^?1?s^?1. The efficiency of mineralization of aqueous solutions of both TRK herbicides was evaluated in terms of total organic carbon removal. Mineralization yields of about 97?C98% were reached in optimal conditions for a 6-h electro-Fenton treatment time.

Conclusions

The mineralization process steps involved the oxidative opening of the aromatic or cyclic TRK by-products, leading to the formation of short-chain carboxylic acids, and, then, of carbon dioxide and inorganic ions.     

Elimination of radiocontrast agent diatrizoic acid by photo-Fenton process and enhanced treatment by coupling with electro-Fenton process

The removal of radiocontrast agent diatrizoic acid (DIA) from water was performed using photo-Fenton (PF) process. First, the effect of H₂O₂ dosage on mineralization efficiency was determined using ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. The system reached a maximum mineralization degree of 60 % total organic carbon (TOC) removal at 4 h with 20 mM initial H₂O₂ concentration while further concentration values led to a decrease in TOC abatement efficiency. Then, the effect of different concentrations of Fenton’s reagents was studied for homogeneous Fenton process. Obtained results revealed that 0.25 mM Fe³⁺ and 20 mM H₂O₂ were the best conditions, achieving 80 % TOC removal efficiency at 4 h treatment. Furthermore, heterogeneous PF treatment was developed using iron-activated carbon as catalyst. It was demonstrated that this catalyst is a promising option, reaching 67 % of TOC removal within 4 h treatment without formation of iron leachate in the medium. In addition, two strategies of enhancement for process efficiency are proposed: coupling of PF with electro-Fenton (EF) process in two ways: photoelectro-Fenton (PEF) or PF followed by EF (PF-EF) treatments, achieving in both cases the complete mineralization of DIA solution within only 2 h. Finally, the Microtox tests revealed the formation of more toxic compounds than the initial DIA during PF process, while, it was possible to reach total mineralization by both proposed alternatives (PEF or PF-EF) and thus to remove the toxicity of DIA solution.     

Fe(3+)- and Cu(2+)-reduction by phenol derivatives associated with Azure B degradation in Fenton-like reactions

Several phenol derivatives were evaluated regarding their capacities for Fe(3+) and Cu(2+) reduction. Selected compounds were assayed in Fenton-like reactions to degrade Azure B. 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic, 2,5-dihydroxyterephtalic, gallic, chromotropic and 3-hydroxyanthranilic acids were the most efficient reducers of both metallic ions. The reaction system composed of 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid/Fe(3+)/H(2)O(2) was able to degrade Azure B at higher levels than the conventional Fenton reaction (87% and 75% of decolorization after 20min reaction, respectively). Gallic and syringic acids, catechol and vanillin induced Azure B degradations at lower levels as compared with conventional Fenton reaction. Azure B was not degraded in the presence of 10% (v/v) methanol or ethanol, which are OH radical scavengers, confirming the participation of this radical in the degradation reactions. Iron-containing reactions consumed substantially more H(2)O(2) than reactions containing copper. In iron-containing reactions, even the systems that caused a limited degradation of the dye consumed high concentrations of H(2)O(2). On the other hand, the reactions containing Fe(3+), H(2)O(2) and 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid or 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid were the most efficient on degradation of Azure B and also presented the highest H(2)O(2) consumption. These results indicate that H(2)O(2) consumption occurs even when the dye is not extensively degraded, suggesting that part of the generated OH radicals reacts with the own phenol derivative instead of Azure B.