Application of steel slags induced Fenton-like reactions for treating MTBE

Chemical oxidation is a soil and groundwater remediation technology. It may treat subsurface contaminated area without interference of the structure, and is more effective and fast comparing to other remediation technologies. In this study, steel slags will catalyze the Na₂S₂O₈ decomposition, forming hydroxyl radicals and sulfate radicals with high oxidation capacity to destroy the organic pollutants. The pCBA was used as a chemical probe compound. Monitoring the change in pCBA removal rate provides an indirect measurement of the oxidation activity. MTBE was used as the target pollutant to investigate its relationship between the oxidation activity and MTBE removal efficiency. High pH environment will affect the detection of pCBA probe compound. However, it can be solved by the correction of mobile phase. In the catalytic oxidation reaction, the catalytic ability of steel slags is greater than pure iron oxides because of their porous and greater activation position. Persulfate oxidation systems increased the oxidation activity and MTBE removal rate under wider pH range. Using the EAF Oxidizing Slag to induce Na₂S₂O₈ results in having the best MTBE removal efficiency, it can degrade MTBE completely after reaction in 24 hours. In this study, pCBA removal rate and MTBE removal rate was positively correlated, and these chemical probes can be used to assess pollutant removal efficiency.