Phenolic contaminant acids oxidation by Fenton's reagent

The oxidation of four phenolic acids by hydroxyl radicals has been studied. These acids (p-hydroxyphenylacetic, gentisic, homoprotocatechuic and 2,3-d ihydroxybenzoic acids) were selected since they constitute major pollutants present in some agro-industrial wastewaters. Hydroxyl radicals were genera ted by the Fenton's reagent, a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and ferrous ion s. In a first stage, the single decomposition by Fenton's reagent of p-hydr oxyphenylacetic acid was conducted with the aim to evaluate the rate consta nt for the reaction between the OH radical and the acid. In a second stage, the oxidation of the four acids was performed and the rate constants for t he radical reactions were evaluated by means of a competitive kinetic model .