RADIATION OXIDATION OF PHENOL IN THE PRESENCE OF PETROCHEMICAL WASTE-WATER COMPONENTS

Radiolytical decomposition of phenol was investigated at Co-60 gamma i rradiation (1-2 Gy . s(-1) less than or equal to 10 kGy) of pre- and c ontinuously aerated aqueous solutions at concentrations of phenol 1-10 0 mg . . dm(-3) and in the presence of sodium hydroxide, sulphuric aci d, sodium and ferrous sulphate, formaldehyde, 2-propanol, n-hexane, xy lene, benzene, and commercial gasoline. From the decomposition rate at doses 50-400 Gy, a phenomenological model of linear relation between the dose acquired for 37% decomposition (D-37) initial concentration ( g . m(-3)) of phenol (p(0)) and of an admixture (s(0)) was confirmed i n the form D-37 = 52f(tr)(p(0) + f(eq) s(0)), whereas are constants wh ich can be attributed to the relative transformation resistance of phe nol towards the OH radicals in given matrix (f(tr), for pure water f(t r)=1) and relative acceptor capacity of competing substrate (f(eq)). I n real wastewater, the efficient decrease of phenols content may be su bstantially lower than that in model solutions, obviously due to radia tion oxidation of aromates, as proved by irradiation of aqueous soluti ons of benzene. Technical and economical feasibility of the process is discussed.