• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.43-51
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• 2012

Rreactivity of persulfate (PS) for oxidation of TCE under various conditions such as heat, $Fe^{2+}$, and UV was investigated. It was found that degradation rate of TCE increased with increasing temperature from 15 to $35^{\circ}C$. At pH 7.0, the rate constants (k) at 15, 25, 30, and $35^{\circ}C$ were 0.07, 0.30, 0.74, and $1.30h^{-1}$, respectively. For activation by $Fe^{2+}$, removal efficiency of TCE increased with increasing $Fe^{2+}$ concentration from 1.9 mM to 11 mM. The maximum removal efficiency of TCE was approximately 85% when pH of the solution dropped from 7.0 to 2.5. Degradation of TCE by UV-activated PS was the most effective, showing that the degradation rate of TCE increased with inreasing PS dosage; the rate constants (k) at 0.5, 2.5, and 10 mM were 34.2, 40.5, and $55.9h^{-1}$, respectively. Our results suggest that PS activation by UV/PS process could be the most effective in activation processes tested for TCE degradation. For oxidation process by PS, however, pH should be observed and adjusted to neutral conditions (i.e., 5.8-8.5) if necessary.