Advanced Oxidative Process for Treatment of Effluents with Hydroquinone in a Batch Reactor: Optimization/Modelling Technique by Response Surface Methodology and Artificial Neural Networks

The main objective of this research was to evaluate by using the advanced oxidative process (AOP), a toxic compound, such as an initial hydroquinone concentration (C0) of 500 mg L-1 in a batch reactor. At this stage of the work, an optimization method was performed to obtain mineralization of the total organic carbon (TOC). Furthermore, hydrogen peroxide was used as a source of free hydroxyl radicals (•OH). First, a factorial planning 22 was carried out with the two most significant variables, and two levels were used for the variables (pH and RH). Second, a rotational central composite design (RCCD) was used to investigate the optimal point corresponding to the maximum mineralization of hydroquinone (HQ) and the variables used in the model were pH and RH. Third, the optimal point of HQ mineralization was obtained carried for the desirability function, ranging from 0.0 (very undesirable) to 1.0 (very desirable). Fourth, artificial neural networks (ANNs) was used and the values included in the experiment were time (t), initial hydrogen potential (pH), temperature of the liquid effluent (T), air flow supply (QAF), and the mole ratio of hydroquinone/hydrogen peroxide (RH). The optimal conditions for a TOC conversion, (>80%) were identified. Modeling using artificial neural networks (ANNs) was used to predict the TOC conversion as a function of time. The values of the correlation coefficients (R2) for agreement between the ANN predictions and the experimental results were approximately 0.97, indicating that the model was satisfactory. These techniques have shown to be very promising in the prediction of the degradation and mineralization of contaminants. Thus, the process modeling data by ANN, allowed to carry out a treatment of organic liquid effluents in vertical reactors installed on offshore platforms and then to release this treated water into the oceans, after the complete degradation of hydroquinone and the highest TOC conversion. Therefore, seas pollution caused by the exploration on offshore platforms of oil and natural gas, the main sources of obtaining energy in the planet, tends to be minimized, providing a more sustainable energy generation.