Application of artificial neural network for modeling of phenol mineralization by photo-Fenton process using a multi-lamp reactor

An artificial neural network (ANN) was implemented for modeling phenol mineralization in aqueous solution using the photo-Fenton process. The experiments were conducted in a photochemical multi-lamp reactor equipped with twelve fluorescent black light lamps (40 W each) irradiating UV light. A three-layer neural network was optimized in order to model the behavior of the process. The concentrations of ferrous ions and hydrogen peroxide, and the reaction time were introduced as inputs of the network and the efficiency of phenol mineralization was expressed in terms of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) as an output. Both concentrations of Fe(2+) and H2O2 were shown to be significant parameters on the phenol mineralization process. The ANN model provided the best result through the application of six neurons in the hidden layer, resulting in a high determination coefficient. The ANN model was shown to be efficient in the simulation of phenol mineralization through the photo-Fenton process using a multi-lamp reactor.