What is Fenton's agent?

Fenton's agent is a substance that contains hydrogen peroxide and iron. The mixture is highly reactive. It is added to contaminated waters in which it reacts with toxins to transform them into harmless compounds or compounds that can be removed from the water. This allows people to re -use water instead of forcing it to storage until the toxins break down. The agent is commonly used to remove chemical waste, such as phenols, from water. In the solution they create molecules of hydroxide ions that have one hydrogen and one oxygen atom. Hydroxide easily reacts with other molecules. When iron is added to a hydrogen peroxide solution, it facilitates the decay of hydrogen peroxide into hydroxide, so that the solution is even more reactive. Hydrogen peroxide solution is said to be catalyzed by iron and the combination is called Fenton's agent.

H. H. Fenton, who gave his name a phenomenon reagent n discovered the potential of the mixture in 1894. At that time, however, the chemist community did not understand why the solution worked as it was. About deSet years later, other scientists identified a process that cleaned the solution. After this discovery in the 1930s, factories began to use cleaning to clean industrial waste.

The solution is able to remove various waste from water, including several common industrial by -products. For example, it can decompose phenols and other toxic organic substances. It increases the quality of waste water, measured by biochemical demand for oxygen and demand from chemical oxygen. The agent also improves the aesthetic properties of the water, removes coloring and odors caused by pollutants.

The mechanism by which Fenton's agent works is general, which means that treatment can apply to a wide range of scope and pollutants. This also means that the agent does not discriminate between the molecules dissolved in the waste water. Hydroxide ions can respond with molecules that people treat water into the intention of changing water. UseThe reagent requires careful analysis to prevent accidental reactions.

In some cases, targeted treatment ingredients may be a better choice than Fenton's agent. However, it has clear advantages. It works quickly compared to other solutions. The agent also leaves little behind: unheified hydrogen peroxide disintegrates into oxygen and water, so treatment does not cause other problems with water supply.