Photo-degradation of 5 – Fluorouracil. Comparative Study on the Efficiencies of UV/H2O2, UV/TiO2, UV/H2O2/TiO2 Processes

Abstract

Degradation experiments on 5-Fluorouracil synthetic solutions were performed using three types of advanced oxidation systems: UV/H2O2, UV/TiO2 and UV/H2O2/TiO2. Optimum parameters for all three systems were established and 5-Fluorouracil degradation efficiencies were calculated, for all systems being more than 97%. The results showed that the combined UV/H2O2/TiO2 system is offering shortest irradiation time, the possibility to recover and reuse the photo catalyst as well as the possibility to use solar radiation. Obtained results proved also that advanced oxidation processes represent a viable option for degradation of hazardous pollutants that cannot be removed properly via conventional wastewater treatment processes.