Kinetic modelling studies of As(III) oxidation in dark pH 3 and 8 Fenton - mediated and pH 8 Cu(II) - H2O2 systems

Abstract

In this thesis, a combination of laboratory experimentation under well defined conditions coupled with a kinetic modelling approach is used to verify the existence and respective kinetic rates of previously unconfirmed or postulated mechanisms that drive and limit dark Fenton (Fe(II)/H2O2) - mediated As(III) oxidation at pH 3 and 8 and dark Cu(II) - H2O2 - mediated As(III) oxidation at pH 8. Dark Fenton - mediated oxidation of As(III) at pH 3 is first examined and the effects of the variation in the concentration of reactants (As(III), Fe(II) and H2O2), oxygen, phosphate and organics (2 - propanol, formate, and citrate) are reported and analysed. The kinetic models developed for these systems show high applicability to full scale water treatment application and key mechanistic findings include the significance of the cycling of Fe(II) / Fe(III) via HO2 •/O2 •−, the effects of As(IV) termination reactions in the absence of oxygen and the retarding effects of phosphate due to the postulated formation of a Fe(III) - phosphate complex (at a derived rate constant of 2.2 x 106 M-1s-1, that also appears to have negligible kinetic activity in terms of reduction to Fe(II) by HO2 •/O2 •−). The work also demonstrates the significance of the free radical by products of formate and citrate oxidation by •OH (HCOO•/CO2 •− and 3HGA•2−). The examination of the dark Cu(II) - H2O2 - mediated oxidation of As(III) at pH 8 with variation in the concentration of reactants (As(III), Fe(II) and H2O2), carbonate and organics (2 - propanol, formate and citrate) demonstrated for the first time the high applicability of this system to the

pre - oxidation of As(III) in water treatment and mechanistically that •OH and CO3 •− are the dominant As(III) oxidants in this system. The As(III) oxidant CO3 •−, is suggested to be generated by the interaction of •OH and O2 •− with the carbonate matrix, at the respective rate constants of 4.9 x 107 M-1s-1 and 5.5 x 106 M-1s-1. Examination of the dark Fenton - mediated oxidation of As(III) at pH 8 and the effects of variation in the concentration of reactants (As(III), Fe(II) and H2O2), carbonate, organics (2 - propanol, formate and citrate) and Cu(II) demonstrates the varied potential mechanistic pathways in relation to the generation of As(III) oxidants from the Fenton reaction, Fe(II) + H2O2 such as Fe(IV) and CO3 •− and the previously dismissed •OH, due to the presence of Fe(II) - citrate complexes. This work also demonstrates and models the enhancement of As(III) oxidation in the presence of an additional transitional metal ion, Cu(II).