Removal of phenolic compounds from olive mill wastewater by a Fenton-like system H sub(2)O sub(2)/Cu(II)-th ermodynamic and kinetic modeling

The degradation of olive mill wastewater was investigated by a Fenton-like process using Cu (II) as a catalyst and hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant. Phenolic compounds degradation increased from 43% at 30 degree C to 62% at 50 degree C after 65 min treatment. Nonlinear regression methods allowed to accurately describe the experimental results and among the tested models, namely Lewis, Page-modified, Henderson/Pabis, and diffusion models, the most appropriate was found to be the Lewis model. The degradation was found to follow a first-order kinetic and the activation energy was 21 kJ/mol.