In the present study

microwave-H2O2 (MW-H2O2) process was applied for the treatment of Cu-EDTA containing wastewater. The effects of reaction time

initial pH

H2O2 dosage

microwave power and coexistent substances were investigated in detail. The corresponding degradation mechanism of Cu-EDTA was also described. The results showed that for the elimination of 1.57 mmol·L-1 Cu-EDTA

the highest removal efficiencies of Cu (97.0%) and TOC (60.7%) were achieved under the optimum conditions (i.e. initial pH 3

H2O2 dosage 41 mmol·L-1

microwave power 210 W

and reaction time 10 min). In this situation

the effluent conductivity decreased to 1.8 mS·cm-1

and only 0.15 g·L-1 of the sludge yield was generated. The presence of coexistent substances such as NO3- had nearly no effects on the degradation processes

while Cl-

H2PO4- and tartaric acid were unfavorable to the oxidation degradation of Cu-EDTA. After treated for 4 min

Cu-EDTA was almost totally oxidized to various Cu-intermediates

which rapidly degraded within 4-6 min

leading to the final formation of low molecular organic acids

NH3-N

and inorganic carbon. The solid sludge mainly presented in the forms of CuO. Compared with traditional Fenton process

MW-H2O2 process exhibited more excellent performance in terms of oxidation efficiency

effluent conductivity and sludge yield.