[Water purification from ethylene glycol by catalytic oxidation using hydrogen peroxide].

Abstract

In order to select the method of water regeneration from air moisture condensate in a manned enclosed environment, the procedure of water decontamination from ethylene glycol was investigated. The process developed at t 20-22 degrees C and the following concentrations of C2H6O2 = 0.0125-0.5 mole/l, H2O2 = 1-5 mole/l, and catalyst = 1.7-50% wt. In the presence of 6.67 g/l of homogeneous catalyst FeSO4.7H2O, destructive oxidation of ethylene glycol to yield CO2 in the system 0.1 M C2H6O2 + 1M H2O2 proceeded effectively. However, the iron concentration in the decontaminated water exceeded significantly the maximally allowable concentration of iron in potable water as well as in industrial and non-industrial sewage. Heterogeneous MnO- and PbO-based catalysts provided no more than 20% ethylene glycol oxidation. Siderite, a natural mineral containing 33% wt. Fe2+, proved a more effective catalyst of ethylene glycol oxidation. When ethylene glycol and hydrogen peroxide were used at ratios of 1:30 and 1:80 with 5% wt. siderite, the degree of C2H6O2 to CO2 conversion was 99.2% and 99.8, respectively.