Pollution caused by resistant dyes such as rhodamine B, which have a complex structure, are non-biodegradable and highly toxic, is considered one of the environmental challenges. In the present study, the efficiency of the advanced oxidation process based on peracetic acid and ultraviolet radiation (PAA/VUV25%) in removing rhodamine B dye from aqueous solutions was investigated using the one-factor-change-per-test (OFAT) method. For this purpose, a cylindrical Plexiglas pilot with a height of 25 cm and a diameter of 3.4 cm with a useful volume of 80 cc was used, and the effect of effective parameters on the efficiency of the process was investigated, including the initial dye concentration (25 to 500 mg/L), peracetic acid dose (10 to 100 mg/L), pH (2 to 9), and 2 types of lamps, UVC (wavelength 254 nm) and VUV25% (75% wavelength 254 nm and 25% wavelength 185 nm). The results showed that the highest removal efficiency of 97.53% was achieved under the optimal conditions including 150 mg/L dye concentration, 30 mg/L peracetic acid dose, pH = 3 and VUV25% lamp for 60 minutes. This indicates that the reaction rate has an exponential relationship with the dye concentration and the rate limitation depends on the reactant concentration. 

Keywords: Rhodamine B, Peracetic Acid, VUV, Advanced Oxidation, Energy Consumption

Dr. Bita Ayati is the Associate Professor in Environmental Engineering Division of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Faculty at Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran. 

She received her Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from Tarbiat Modares University in 2005, her M.Sc. in Environmental Engineering in 1998, and her B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering in 1996, both from Sharif University of Technology in Tehran, Iran. Dr. Ayati's recent research interests include the treatment of hard-to-biodegrade industrial and hazardous wastewater, especially using new methods including nanotechnology and advanced biological systems. She supervised 5 Ph.D. and more than 40 M.Sc. students. She is the author of the book entitled: “Application of Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) in Sanitary & Industrial Wastewater Treatment”. She has published over 150 papers in national and international journals and conference proceedings. She has obtained 15 scientific awards, including the Young Scientist Award from Man and Biosphere (MAB), UNESCO in 2002