Photo-Fenton process applied for the treatment of industrial wastewaters containing diclofenac: optimization with low iron ions concentrations and without pH control.

Diclofenac (DCF) can cause several adverse effects in the environment and it should be removed from industrial pharmaceutical wastewaters. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are promising methods for the DCF degradation. But, in many cases, AOPs require acidic pH. However, at this condition, DCF precipitates, which may hinder its oxidation. Thus, in this work, some AOP were studied for the DCF degradation, especially the photo-Fenton process, applying the experimental design technique (Doehlert matrix), operating without and with pH control (between 6.5 and 7.0). As independent variables, the initial ferrous ion concentration ([Fe]) and the molar addition rate of HO (F) were evaluated. Empirical models were proposed and optimized conditions were determined without ([Fe] = 0.27 mmol L and F = 1.64 mmol min) and with pH control ([Fe] = 1.0 mmol L and F = 1.64 mmol L), with the following predicted mineralization percentages: 93% and 68%, respectively. So, photo-Fenton process without pH control presented the best performances. Furthermore, at this condition, iron concentration respects the limit value established by the Brazilian environmental legislation. That is, in this condition, additional processes, in order to remove iron ions, would not be necessary, that is very interesting for applications on an industrial scale.