Introduction: The degradation and mineralization of two triketone (TRK) herbicides, including sulcotrione and mesotrione, by the electro-Fenton process (electro-Fenton using Pt anode (EF-Pt), electro-Fenton with BDD anode (EF-BDD) and anodic oxidation with BDD anode) were investigated in acidic aqueous medium.
Methods: The reactivity of both herbicides toward hydroxyl radicals was found to depend on the electron-withdrawing effect of the aromatic chlorine or nitro substituents. The degradation of sulcotrione and mesotrione obeyed apparent first-order reaction kinetics, and their absolute rate constants with hydroxyl radicals at pH 3.0 were determined by the competitive kinetics method.
Results and discussion: The hydroxylation absolute rate constant (k(abs)) values of both TRK herbicides ranged from 8.20 × 10(8) (sulcotrione) to 1.01 × 10(9) (mesotrione) L mol(-1) s(-1), whereas those of the TRK main cyclic or aromatic by-products, namely cyclohexane 1,3-dione, (2-chloro-4-methylsulphonyl) benzoic acid and 4-(methylsulphonyl)-2-nitrobenzoic acid, comprised between 5.90 × 10(8) and 3.29 × 10(9) L mol(-1) s(-1). The efficiency of mineralization of aqueous solutions of both TRK herbicides was evaluated in terms of total organic carbon removal. Mineralization yields of about 97-98% were reached in optimal conditions for a 6-h electro-Fenton treatment time.
Conclusions: The mineralization process steps involved the oxidative opening of the aromatic or cyclic TRK by-products, leading to the formation of short-chain carboxylic acids, and, then, of carbon dioxide and inorganic ions.