Oxidation of phenol from synthetic wastewater by a novel advance oxidation process: Microwave-assisted periodate

In this study, microwave (MW) was used to activate periodate as a novel advance oxidation process. The effects of a combined process of sodium Periodate and MW was studied in phenol removal from synthetic wastewater. Experiments were performed in a batch process, and the effect of parameters including pH, contact time, initial phenol concentration, MW radiation and Periodate concentration were examined. The maximum phenol removal equal to 98.8 was obtained at pH = 11, initial phenol concentration =100 mg/L, contact time=30 min, MW = 600 W and Periodate concentration = 0.2 mol/L. The maximum phenol removal was only 11.5 at the same conditions but without the influence of MW radiation. The results revealed that as Periodate concentration, MW radiation and contact time increased, the phenol removal efficiency increased as well. Furthermore, when the phenol concentration increased, phenol removal efficiency decreased. It was also observed that MWs activated Periodate and significantly increased process efficiency. Therefore, the combined process of MW-Periodate can be used as a novel advanced oxidation process to remove contaminants from the aquatic environment. © 2016, Scientific Publishers. All rights reserved.