LAUSR

Abstract Diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP) is a phthalate esters (PAEs), often used as a plasticizer. DiBP is frequently detected in the atmosphere, water, and soil around the world, and it has been reported to be reproductive toxicity to humans and animals. Compared to biological and physical methods, the advanced oxidation process is a promising process for DiBP degradation. In this study, the degradation of DiBP by electro-Fenton process with sacrificial anode oxidation was evaluated. The results showed that the DiBP in water can be effectively removed by electro-Fenton process in 45 min, and the degradation rate can reach 93.07 % under the optimal degradation conditions (pH = 5, plate spacing = 5 cm, initial current = 1 A, electrolyte Na2SO4 = 2 g/L, and H2O2 addition amount = 40 μL). In addition, the effects of humic acid (HA) and calcium ions (Ca2+) were investigated, which indicated that each of them can inhibit the degradation of DiBP while HA can also change the attack site of DiBP by hydroxyl radicals (O H), leading to an increase in the degradation products. Electro-Fenton process with sacrificial anode may be a promising advanced oxidation technology for DiBP treatment.