Efficiency of heterogeneous nano zero-valent iron Fenton process for removal of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs from water

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are a major contributor to the pollution of pharmaceutical products in aquatic habitats and for this reason it is crucial to find fast, efficient and ecological techniques for their elimination. The purpose of this study is to examine the feasibility of a nano-zero-valent iron Fenton process to simultaneously remove ketoprofen, naproxen, diclofenac and ibuprofen from water. Since the effectiveness of the Fenton process is influenced by some parameters such as pH, H2O2 and NaCl concentration, the response surface methodology was used to analyze the effects of these parameters on the experimental results. The novelty of this work consists in the use of NaCl to increase the production of iron ions and thus increase the efficiency of the Fenton process. The experimental results show that the process has a good effect on the four pollutants. Under optimal experimental conditions, the degradation rate can exceed 90%. Simultaneously, the analysis of the response surface approach provides assistance in understanding the relationship between the factors affecting the process and the optimization of the experimental settings. In addition, it provides valuable information for addressing similar organic water pollution problems.