Degradation of pentachlorophenol in contaminated soil suspensions by potassium monopersulfate catalyzed oxidation by a supramolecular complex between tetra(p-sulfophenyl)porphineiron(III) and hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin

Abstract

To enhance the catalytic oxidation of pentachlorophenol (PCP) in contaminated soil suspensions using tetra(p-sulfophenyl)porphineiron(III) (Fe(III)-TPPS) as a catalyst and potassium monopersulfate (KHSO(5)) as the single-oxygen donor, the effect of added hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-beta-CD) was examined. At pH 4 and 6, the percentage of PCP disappearance increased substantially in the presence of HP-beta-CD. In addition, the self-degradation of Fe(III)-TPPS was significantly retarded in the presence of HP-beta-CD. This retarded self-degradation can be attributed to the stabilization of Fe(III)-TPPS via the formation of a supramolecular complex with HP-beta-CD. The kinetic constant for the self-degradation of Fe(III)-TPPS in the presence of HP-beta-CD at pH 6 was much smaller than that at pH 4, indicating that Fe(III)-TPPS is more stable at pH 6. Thus, the amount of Fe(III)-TPPS, KHSO(5) and HP-beta-CD required to degrade PCP in contaminated soil suspensions was optimal at pH 6. When PCP-contaminated soil suspensions were treated under the optimized conditions, 12-18% and 24-28% of the PCP was mineralized to CO(2) in the absence and presence of HP-beta-CD, respectively. These results show that the presence of HP-beta-CD in the Fe(III)-TPPS/KHSO(5) catalytic system is effective in enhancing the degradation of PCP in contaminated soil suspensions.