Degradation of Nitrobenzene in an Aqueous Environment through Fenton-like Process Using Box–Behnken Design Method

Nitrobenzene (NB) is one of the main organic contaminants in water and is extensively used in dyes, explosives, and insecticides. However, it is infamous for its great carcinogenicity, toxicity, and other opposing influences on environments and organisms. Furthermore, NB demonstrates poor activity towards oxidative degradation due to the strong electron-withdrawing features of the nitro-group. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the level of NB in water and lake streams should not exceed 17 ppm (1). Therefore, environmental risks have urged the advance of effective methods for NB elimination. Elimination of NB through reducing it to less poisonous aniline has been investigated and the results have shown that the aquatic environment was still at risk even when the A-R-T-I-C-L-EI-N-F-O A-B-S-T-R-A-C-T