FLY-ASH - A CHEAP CATALYST IN WET OXIDATION OF AN INDUSTRIAL PESTICIDE EFFLUENT

Fly ash, a solid waste from thermal power plants, has been used as a c atalyst in reduction of COD of an industrial pesticide effluent by wet oxidation with H2O2 at different temperatures. It has been found that 10% (w/v) fly ash loading enhanced the per cent reduction of COD from 28.72 to 88.73 for a H2O2 loading of 4.5% at 335 K. The catalytic eff ect of fly ash remains unchanged even after fifth repeated use and mor e than 94% of the oxygen liberated from H2O2 is consumed for COD reduc tion. The spent fly ash exhibits good pozzolanic reaction, which sugge sts a potential route of utilization of the spent material.