ABSTRACT
A variety of aromatic organics (15 in all) were partially oxidized using hydrogen peroxide, ozone, or potassium permanganate. Of the compounds tested, all 15 reacted with hydrogen peroxide, 14 of 15 reacted with ozone and 7 of 15 reacted with permanganate. Oxidation with hydrogen peroxide resulted in 17 to 79% ultimate conversion of the organic carbon to carbon dioxide, while ozone resulted in 0 to 74% ultimate conversion and the 7 that reacted with permanganate yielded 22 to 68% ultimate conversion. The toxicity of the reactive compounds was typically greatly reduced (based on Microtox), however several compounds exhibited an increase in toxicity after oxidation (on an equivalent TOC basis); resorcinol, vanillin and salicylic acid for hydrogen peroxide; resorcinol, and sulfanilic acid for permanganate. Using an unacclimated municipal activated sludge, the oxidized compounds were found to be much more amenable to biological treatment on the basis of overall removal from solution (chemical oxidation + bio-oxidation vs bio-oxidation only).
