The work detailed here examined the impact of selected unit methods and ultrasonic removal of the widespread plastic additive di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) from the bottom sediments of a body of water. To this end, hydrogen peroxide and a classic or modified Fenton process were used, supplemented by an ultrasonic field. The latter had a vibration frequency of 20 kHz and an acoustic wave intensity of 3.97 W/cm2. The impact of process parameters such as reaction environment, reaction time, initial impurity content, aging of the impurity, influence of processes on the content of organic matter and dissolved organic carbon, and elution of selected components from the matrix were all analysed. It emerged that the most effective process by which to remove DEHP from a solid matrix involved a modified Fenton process assisted by an ultrasonic field. The highest average degradation efficiency achieved in this way was 70.74%, for C0 = 10 mg/kg d.w. and t = 60 min.
Keywords: Fenton process; di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate; hazardous materials; microplastics; ultrasounds.