Optimal experimental design and artificial neural networks applied to the photochemically enhanced Fenton reaction.

Among advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), the photochemically enhanced Fenton reaction may be considered as one of the most efficient for the degradation of contaminants in industrial wastewater. This process involves a series of complex reactions. Therefore, an empirical model based on artificial neural networks has been developed for fitting the experimental data obtained in a laboratory batch reactor for the degradation of 2,4-dimethyl aniline (2,4-xylidine), chosen as a model pollutant. The model describes the evolution of the pollutant concentration during irradiation time as a function of the process conditions. It has been used for simulating the behavior of the reaction system in sensitivity studies aimed at optimizing the amounts of reactants employed in the process, an iron(III) salt and hydrogen peroxide, as well as the temperature. The results show that the process is most sensitive to the concentration of iron(III) salt and temperature, whereas the concentration of hydrogen peroxide has a minor effect.