ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Efficiency Optimization of Pharmaceutical
Wastewater Treatment by a Microwave-Assisted
Fenton-Like Process Using Special
Supported Catalysts
Xudong Qi1,2, Zhihui Li2
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1School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
2School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, China
Submission date: 2015-11-08
Final revision date: 2016-01-30
Acceptance date: 2016-02-22
Publication date: 2016-05-25
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2016;25(3):1205-1214
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ABSTRACT
The effi ciency of a microwave-assisted Fenton-like process using special supported catalysts was
evaluated using total organic carbon (TOC) removal from pharmaceutical wastewater. No acidification
was required. The highest level of TOC removal efficiency from wastewater achieved was 65.88%.
Moreover, the maximum number of consecutive uses with high activity was four. Under optimal conditions,
the influent value of BOD5/COD was 0.25, and the effluent value of BOD5/COD was elevated to 0.40.
In addition, colour was completely removed. This effi ciency was compared with the same MW-Fentonlike
process using common supported catalysts, where the highest achieved TOC removal efficiency from
wastewater was 39.25%, the colour of the wastewater decreased from 50 to 20, and the value of BOD5/
COD was elevated from 0.25 to 0.34. The maximum number of consecutive high activity uses was two.
This advanced performance was attributed to no presence of copper carbonate or cerium carbonate on the
surface of special supported catalysts. The preparation method for these catalysts combined the merits of
the isometric impregnation method with some new improvements. Its advantages include high-efficiency
performance, short preparation time, low reagent usage (cupric nitrate 3.6 g, cerium nitrate 1.2 g, ammonia
1 mL), and reusability. The properties of the catalyst with the most efficient performance were characterized
by determining surface particle size, the relative amount of active components and promoters, and the stable
crystal form of the active components.