The Impact of Prolonged Use and Oxidative Degradation of Atrazine by Fenton and Photo-Fenton Processes

The residues of atrazine were assessed in soil and groundwater samples. It was found in the range of 0.60-1.52 mu gL(-1) in groundwater exceeding the maximum permissible limits proposed by the US EPA. However, the concentration of atrazine (1.64-16.87 mu gKg(-1)) analysed in soil was within the permissible limits. The degradation of atrazine was carried out using ultraviolet radiations (UV) only, Iron Chloride (FeCl3), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), Fenton reagent, UV/FeCl3, and UV/FeCl3/H2O2. The photolysis of atrazine resulted in only a 42.57% decrease in the concentration indicating it as an ineffective treatment process. The removal rate of atrazine varied from 79.93% to 97.02 % using the photo-Fenton reagent and the maximum removal was achieved in 120 min. The kinetic study was also performed and the experimental results followed the Pseudo first order kinetic model. The highest rate constant 'k' value was 0.018 min(-1) which was attained in the case of photo-Fenton treatment process. In conclusion, the photo Fenton treatment process was found the most efficient treatment process among all the treatment processes used in this study. The photo-Fenton treatment process can be efficiently applied to resolve the atrazine issue in soil and water. (C) 2021 Published by Elsevier B.V.