ENHANCING 2,4-DICHLOROPHENOXYACETIC ACID DEGRADATION VIA FENTON OXIDATION PROCESS (H2O2/Fe2+) USING FACTORIAL PLANNING

This study explores the degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), a common herbicide, using the Fenton oxidation process under varying conditions. A factorial design approach was applied to evaluate the impact of pH (2.50, 2.75, 3.00), FeSO4∙7H2O concentrations (0.3, 0.5, and 0.7 mmol L–1), and H2O2 concentrations (3.0, 5.0, and 7.0 mmol L–1), with a fixed 2,4-D concentration of 100 mg L–1. A total of 27 experiments were conducted to assess removal efficiency and post-treatment ecotoxicity. Optimal degradation was observed at pH 2.75, FeSO4∙7H2O = 0.3 mmol L–1, and H2O2 = 7.0 mmol L–1, achieving a 69.66% reduction in 2,4-D concentration after 120 min of treatment. The results indicate that the Fenton process is a viable pretreatment option for agrochemical wastewater, offering effective partial degradation and a reduction in toxicity. These findings support the potential of Fenton oxidation as an environmentally friendly approach for mitigating the impacts of herbicide-contaminated wastewater.