Investigation of the efficiency of heterogeneous Fenton-like process using modified magnetic nanoparticles with sodium alginate in removing Bisphenol A from aquatic environments: kinetic studies

Bisphenol A (BPA) is one of the endocrine disrupting compounds that has significant estrogenic effects and if it is not treated, it will enter into water resources and will cause irreparable environmental problems. Thus, this study aims at determining the efficiency of heterogeneous Fenton-like process using modified magnetic nanoparticles with sodium alginate in removing BPA from aquatic environments. In this experimental research, the effects of environmental factors including pH (3–9), contact time (10–180 min), initial concentration of catalyst (0.5–20 g/L), initial concentration of hydrogen peroxide (50–300 mg/L) and the initial concentration of BPA (10–60 mg/L) were studied in removing efficiency of BPA using processes of heterogeneous Fenton-like, alginate sodium and hydrogen peroxide. Results of present study showed that during heterogeneous Fenton-like process, the highest removal efficiency (BPA) is achieved (95) at pH 5, catalyst concentration 5 g/L, initial concentration of hydrogen peroxide 100 ppm and BPA concentration 20 ppm in 120 min in a way that the processes of sodium alginate and hydrogen peroxide had smaller removal efficiency. Also, studies of kinetic reaction revealed that removal of BPA in heterogeneous Fenton-like process followed a second-order kinetic model (R2 = 0.98). Results demonstrated that heterogeneous Fenton-like process is able to remove BPA effectively from aquatic environments using modified magnetic nanoparticles with sodium alginate as a catalyst under optimal conditions and this process could be used to remove other similar compounds. © 2018 Desalination Publications. All rights reserved.