Efficiency of organic compounds removal by electron-beam irradiation in presence of high metal concentration

The high efficiency of electron-beam irradiation process in removing organic compounds from industrial effluents has been established. The actual chemical, textile, pharmaceutical and industrial effluents contain a high level of organic and inorganic compounds. In this study, the organic compounds removal was evaluated in the simulated industrial effluents, using electron-beam irradiation. The samples were prepared by adding Na, Cl, Ca, P, K, Si, At, Zn, Fe, Mn, Cd, Pb, As and Hg elements and dichloroethane, methylisobutylketone, toluene, xylene, benzene, chloroform, tetrachloroethylene and trichloroethylene organic compounds. The samples were irradiated in a batch system and delivered irradiation doses were 20 and 50 kGy. The free metals sample showed a more than 99% organic compounds removal at 20 kGy irradiation doses. The same level of removal had reached at 50 kGy irradiation doses for sample-containing metals. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.