DEGRADATION OF AQUEOUS NITROPHENOLS AND NITROBENZENE BY MEANS OF THE FENTON REACTION

The 'classical' Fenton reagent (FeCl2/H2O2) has been successfully applied to the degradation of 2-nitro- (I), 4-nitro- (II) and 2,4-dinitrophenol (III) in aerated aqueous solutions. The rate of the Fenton reaction of nitrobenzene (IV) is slower than those of nitrophenols (I) - (III). The rate of the decomposition of all the compounds (I) - (IV) is dependent on the concentration of the reagents. The mechanism of the reaction is discussed. The Fenton reaction is suggested as a convenient method for the purifications of wastewaters contaminated with nitrophenols, which are toxic pollutants, difficult to decompose by other means.