Role of process parameters in the degradation of sulfamethoxazole by heat-activated peroxymonosulfate oxidation: Radical identification and elucidation of the degradation mechanism

The use of heat-activated peroxymonosulfate oxidation for the degradation antibiotic compound sulfamethoxazole (SMX) was studied in this paper. It found that process follows a pseudo-first order kinetic model. Increasing oxidant concentration and/or activation temperature led to higher efficiency. pH from 3 9.5 resulted efficiency as well, although SMX significantly inhibited at 11. Through radical scavenging experiments, it both •OH and •SO4? played role mechanism. Seven transformation products were identified process. Both radicals present initial value influence formation several products. Finally, compared with persulfate main intermediates formed processes each other.