Degradation of p-nitrophenol by Gamma Irradiation

Degradation of p-nitrophenol has been carried out using only gamma irradiation or gamma irradiation with $H_2O_2$ or $Na_2S_2O_8$. Effects of different operating parameters such as initial concentration ($50mg\;l^{-1}$, $100mg\;l^{-1}$, $200mg\;l^{-1}$, $300mg\;l^{-1}$, $400mg\;l^{-1}$, $500mg\;l^{-1}$ and $600mg\;l^{-1}$) on the extent of degradation has been investigated. At 5 kGy, $50mg\;l^{-1}$ p-nitrophenol was completely degraded, and the radiolytic degradation of p-nitrophenol was described by the pseudo-first-order kinetic model. The combination of gamma irradiation with $H_2O_2$ or $Na_2S_2O_8$ leads to an enhanced effect, which remarkably increased the degradation efficiency of p-nitrophenol and TOC removal. However, at high $H_2O_2$ concentration, the efficacy of p-nitrophenol degradation is reduced because ${\cdot}OH$ radicals are scavenged by $H_2O_2$ and $Na_2S_2O_8$.