Reductive degradation of 2,4-dinitrotoluene wastewater by the catalyzed Fe-Cu process

The reductive degradation of 2,4-dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT) by the catalyzed Fe-Cu process was investigated. The effects of Fe/Cu mass ratio, pH and initial 2,4-DNT concentration on the removal efficiency were studied. The results indicated that the catalyzed Fe-Cu process could improve the reduction of 2,4-DNT compared with conventional Fe process. The removal rate of 2,4-DNT increased with decreasing pH value. The highest removal rate was observed when pH was kept at around 2. In addition, the reduction of 2,4-DNT by the catalyzed Fe-Cu process followed pseudo-first-order kinetics. According to UV spectral and HPLC analyses, 2,4-diaminotoluene(2,4-DAT) was the final reaction product of 2,4-DNT reduced by the catalyzed Fe-Cu process and possible reductive pathway of 2,4-DNT was proposed.