Effect of inorganic ions on the solar detoxification of water polluted with pesticides.

The effect of eleven inorganic ions (Cl(-), NO(3)(-), SO(4)(2-); PO(4)(3-), Na(+); NH(4)(+), Ca(2+), Mg(2+), Zn(2+), Cu(2+) and Al(3+)) on the photo-Fenton elimination of pesticides has been investigated. Phosphate and chloride have been demonstrated to have an inhibitory role; on the other hand, the reaction was accelerated in the presence of Cu(2+), most probably due to a copper-driven Fenton-like process. The solar photo-Fenton treatment of a mixture of four commercial pesticides was studied at pilot plant scale in the presence of chlorides. Samples with coincident dissolved organic carbon (DOC) showed similar chemical composition, which resulted in a comparable biocompatibility, however longer irradiation periods were needed to reach the desired mineralization when Cl(-) was present. It was demonstrated that the chemical process was able to improve significantly the biocompatibility of the effluent, as shown by the inhibition of respiration of activated sludge, BOD/COD ratio and Zahn-Wellens test.