Degradation of ethylene glycol in photo Fenton systems

Ethylene glycol loss rate constants of 1.0±0.40 h −1 were achieved in photo Fenton systems containing concentrations of 1000 mg/l ethylene glycol. Ethylene glycol was converted to formic acid resulting in a loss of calculated chemical oxygen demand. Iron was not catalytic in the system which may be due to the formation of ferric oxalate complexes. The system was inhibited by elevated concentrations of sulfate and a phosphate buffer solution. The optimal pH was 3.0, with significant decreases in the degradation rates below 2.8 and above 3.2. Increased TOC loss was noted in similar UV/H 2O 2 systems indicating a potential for increased mineralization in optimized photo Fenton systems with longer residence times.