Toxicity assessment of textile effluents treated by advanced oxidative process (UV/TiO sub(2) and UV/TiO sub(2)/H sub(2)O sub(2)) in the species Artemia salina L

Textile industry wastes raise a great concern due to their strong coloration and toxicity. The objective of the present work was to characterize the degradation and mineralization of textile effluents by advanced oxidative processes using either TiO sub(2) or TiO sub(2)/H sub(2)O sub(2) and to monitor the toxicity of the products formed during 6-h irradiation in relation to that of the in natura effluent. The results demonstrated that the TiO sub(2)/H sub(2)O sub(2) association was more efficient in the mineralization of textile effluents than TiO sub(2), with high mineralized ion concentrations (NH super(+) sub(4), NO super(-) sub(3), and SO super(2)- sub(4)) and significantly decreased organic matter ratios (represented by the chemical oxygen demand and total organic carbon). The toxicity of the degradation products after 4-h irradiation to Artemia salina L. was not significant (below 10 %). However, the TiO sub(2)/H sub(2)O sub(2) association produced more toxicity under irradiation than the TiO sub(2) system, which was attributed to the increased presence of oxidants in the first group. Comparatively, the photogenerated products of both TiO sub(2) and the TiO sub(2)/H sub(2)O sub(2) association were less toxic than the in natura effluent.