LAUSR

Abstract The research objective was to develop a persulfate-activator soft solid (PASS) as a biodegradable slow-release oxidant to treat phenol-contaminated groundwater. PASS was prepared by graft copolymerization of acrylic acid (AA) and acrylamide (AM) onto 1% (w/v) sodium alginate mixed with 500 mg L−1 sodium persulfate and 5 mg L−1 ferrous sulfate. The physical and chemical properties of PASS were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, the water content and swelling ratio. Various variables, including the ratio of AA/AM, pH, temperature and the type of groundwater cations affecting PS release, were investigated. The maximum PS release in DI water was 98% in the ratio of PASS 1 (AA/AM, 75/25), 96% at pH 3, 83% at 25 °C, and 80% with Na + . The major factors controlling PS release were the AA/AM ratio and pH. PASS 1 can be stable in size and shape for 6–8 days and completely degraded within 34 days. The degradation rates of 10 mgL−1 phenol using PASS produced the highest k obs values for each variable at a ratio of PASS 1 ( k = 0 . 1408 h−1), pH 7 ( k = 0 . 1338 h−1), 25 °C ( k = 0 . 1939 h−1), and Ca 2 + ( k = 0 . 1336 h−1). The temperature of the groundwater was key to driving the reaction between PS and phenol. PASS 1 was applied in simulated phenol-contaminated groundwater via horizontal tanks containing Ottawa sand. The results indicated 93.2% phenol removal within 72 h in a narrow horizontal flow tank and 41.7% phenol removal in a wide horizontal flow tank with aeration.