OXIDATION OF POLYNUCLEAR AROMATIC-HYDROCARBONS IN WATER .1. OZONATION

The oxidation of three polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), fluorene, phenanthrene, and acenaphthene, in aqueous solution with ozone has been studied. The influence of hydroxyl radical inhibitors, pH, ozone partial pressure, and temperature was investigated. Ah the PAHs studied show high oxidation rates with ozone. The ozonation of fluorene seems to be due to both direct and hydroxyl radical reactions while for the rest of the PAHs the ozonation develops only through direct reactions with ozone. Rate constants for the direct reaction between these PAHs and ozone have also been calculated. The reactivity with ozone goes in the following order: fluorene < phenanthrene < acenaphthene. The contribution of radical reactions represents more than 90% in the ozonation of fluorene in most cases except in the presence of hydroxyl radical inhibitors. In a standard agitated reactor the kinetic regime of the absorption of ozone corresponds to a slow reaction in the case of fluorene and phenanthrene and to a fast reaction in the case of acenaphthene.