Degradation of Ethylene Thiourea (ETU) with Three Fenton Treatment Processes

Abstract

Anodic Fenton treatment (AFT), an electrochemical, hydroxyl radical oxidation treatment system, was developed for the degradation of aqueous pesticides and other aqueous organic wastes. AFT of ethylene thiourea (ETU) was optimized and compared with electrochemical Fenton treatment (EFT) and classic Fenton treatment (CFT). ETU is a known carcinogen and is an impurity and degradation product of the widely used ethylenebisdithiocarbamate (EBDC) fungicide group. ETU was degraded effectively in all treatment methods, with CFT being the most rapid; however, significant differences in degradation product profiles were noted over the course of treatments. AFT displayed the most efficient degradation of primary degradation products of ETU.