Effect of electron beam irradiation on the degradation of monochlorophenols in aqueous solution

Electron beam was successfully used for the degradation of 2-chlorophenol (2-CP) and 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) in aqueous solutions in this research. The effect of radiation dose on substrate degradation and dechlorination of solutions with concentration of 50 mg/L was investigated. The effect of initial concentration, pH and presence of oxygen was also investigated. The concentration of 2-CP and 4-CP remaining in solution after irradiation were measured by HPLC. The results showed that increased radiation dose led to increased degradation of the chlorophenols and increased CI- yield. Deaeration was also found to significantly increase the rate of degradation of chlorophenols in water while degradation and dechlorination under alkaline condition was lower than at low to neutral pH.