Oxidation of 2,4 dinitrophenol by hydrogen peroxide in the presence of basic oxygen furnace slag

A treatment process was developed when basic oxygen furnace slag (BOF slag) and hydrogen peroxide were used to oxidize 2,4-dinitrophenol from an aqueo us solution. BOF slag, final waste slurry from steel making plants, contain s about 12.5% by weight of ferrous oxide. In an acid solution, BOF slag can be dissociated to produce ferrous ions and react with hydrogen peroxide to produce hydroxyl radicals and oxidize 2,4-dinitrophenol. The results of th e research demonstrated that the process had a significant capacity for oxi dation of 2,4-dinitrophenol from the aqueous phase. Various factors critica l to the oxidation of 2,4-dinitrophenol were studied, including hydrogen pe roxide concentration, concentration of BOF slag, initial concentration of 2 ,4-dinitrophenol, and pH value of solution. Experimental results proved tha t 100 mg/L 2,4-dinitrophenol and its oxidation intermediate could be totall y decomposed within 60 min by 10 g/L BOF slag, 0.18 g/L hydrogen peroxide a nd pH 2.8 +/- 0.2. The optimum hydrogen peroxide concentration for degradat ion of 100 mg/L of 2,4-dinitrophenol is between 0.09 g/L and 0.18 gn as 10 g/L BOF slag in the solution of pH 2.8 +/- 0.2. A hydrogen peroxide concent ration higher than 0.18 g/L is disadvantageous to the oxidation process. Th e oxidation efficiency increased with the increase of BOF slag concentratio n at 0.18 g/L hydrogen peroxide dose. The best pH value of the solution is in the vicinity of 2.8. An oxidation reaction mechanism was proposed for pr edicting the concentration changes of 2,4-dinitrophenol, ferrous ion, and h ydrogen peroxide.