Kinetics of oxidative decolorization and mineralization of Acid Orange 7 by dark and photoassisted Co2+-catalyzed peroxymonosulfate system.

A kinetic model was proposed and used to interpret the experimental data for degradation of Acid Orange 7 (AO7) in aqueous solution induced by Co(2+)/peroxymonosulfate (Co/PMS) reagent in terms of both decolorization and mineralization. The pseudo first-order decolorization rate constants are related to [Co(2+)], [PMS], reciprocal of [H(+)] and [AO7](0). Activation energy of the AO7 decolorization process was determined to be 75.7 kJ mol(-1). UV and visible light can accelerate the decolorization and mineralization process due to different mechanisms. In the combined UV/Co/PMS system, UV light can decompose PMS to generate hydroxyl ((*)OH) and sulfate radicals (SO(4)(*-)), while in the Vis/Co/PMS system, excited AO7 molecules can transfer electrons to PMS or Co(3+) and thus accelerate the decomposition of PMS and catalytic cycle of Co(3+)/Co(2+).