Complete mineralization of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) by γ-irradiation in aqueous solution.

ABSTRACT: Decomposition of perfluorooctanoic acid (C7F15COOH, PFOA) has been gaining increasing interests because it is a ubiquitous environmental contaminant and resistant to the most conventional treatment processes. In this work, the rapid and complete mineralization of PFOA and simultaneous defluorination were achieved by γ-ray irradiation with a (60)Co source. The degradation rate of PFOA by γ-ray irradiation would be high, and a pseudo-first-order kinetic rate constant of 0.67 h(-1) could be achieved in the N2 satured condition at pH 13.0. The experimental results and quantum chemical calculation confirmed that two radicals, i.e., hydroxyl radical (·OH) and aqueous electrons (eaq(-)), were responsible for the degradation of PFOA, while only either eaq(-) or ·OH might not be able to accomplish

SUBMITTER: Zhang Z 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4261166 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature