A Novel Oxidation Model with Photolysis for Degradation of Trichlorobenzenes (TCBs)

First- and second-order kinetic oxidation rates of trichlorobenzenes (TCBs) were obtained and compared by a chemical activation system (CAS) which mimics mixed functional oxidase activity. The system consists of EDTA, ferrous sulfate, ascorbic acid, and $H_2O_2$ in potassium phosphdte buffer (monobasic at pH 7.4). The rate of transformation in CAS was enhanced in the presence and absence of catalase in the sequence 1, 2, 3-TCB < 1, 2, 4-TCB < 1, 3, 5-TCB. In general, the rates of degradation were greater in the test media with catalase. The effect of photolysis on the degradation of the TCBs with the CAS were examined. Sensitized photolysis with nitrite, Fenton's reagent, TiO$_2$ and triethylamine (TEA) studied in concert with the CAS demonstrated significant enhancement of the degradation rate of TCBs. Disappearance rates of TCBs in CAS with prior photolysis or prior photosensitization were at least 10-fold higher than the sum of the rate for each single experiment. This study proves that the combination of the CAS and photolysis can be used as a suitable technique for enhancing degradation of TCBs in aqueous systems.