Degradation of 1,4-dioxane using advanced oxidation processes.

Introduction: In the nuclear industry 1,4-dioxane is used as a solvent in liquid scintillation technique for measuring low-energy beta-emitters such as ³H or C¹⁴ in aqueous media. Improper disposal of 1,4-dioxane can contaminate the ground and surface waters. Conventional wastewater treatment processes like chemical treatment, air stripping, carbon adsorption, and biological treatment are ineffective for the degradation of 1,4-dioxane.

Methods: In the present study, the kinetics of degradation of 1,4-dioxane using advanced oxidation processes viz., H₂O₂ alone, Fe(II) + H₂O₂, UV (15 W) + H₂O₂, UV (15 W) + Fe(II) + H₂O₂, US (130 KHz) + Fe(II) + H₂O₂, and sunlight + Fe(II) + H₂O₂ at pH 3.0 was investigated. The optimization of Fe (II) for the processes using Fe (II) + H₂O₂ was carried out.

Conclusions: The kinetics of degradation using sunlight + Fe (II) + H₂O₂ was found to be fastest when compared to the other processes. The degradation was found to follow first-order kinetics. Formation of acidic intermediates was suspected from the observed pH changes during the degradation processes.