DEGRADATION OF PROPOXUR BY OZONE

The kinetics of the reaction between ozone and the insecticide Propoxur (also known as Baygon) is studied from ozone absorption experiments carried out in a semicontinuous tank reactor. Mass transfer coefficients and interfacial areas for the reactor were determined previously, and a stoichiometric ratio of 3 moles of ozone consumed per mole of Propoxur reacted is deduced from homogeneous experiments in a discontinuous tank reactor. The overall reaction orders and rate constants are determined following the film theory which is applied to the experimental data, and a general equation which correlates these constants as a function of pH and temperature is proposed. The process develops in the fast pseudo-first-order kinetic regime of absorption.