New Insights into Natural Polyphenol-Enhanced Fe(III)/Peracetic Acid System under Acidic pH Conditions: The Overlooked Role of Coexisting Hydrogen Peroxide

Natural polyphenols have been extensively utilized as reducing agents to enhance contaminant degradation in the Fe(III)/peracetic acid (PAA) system. However, the roles of coexisting hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) remain insufficiently explored. This study, using protocatechuic acid (PCA) as a representative natural polyphenol, demonstrated that contaminant removal within the PCA/Fe(III)/PAA system under acidic pH conditions exhibited two kinetic stages: an initial rapid stage driven by PAA, followed by a slower stage driven by H2O2. The presence of H2O2 facilitated the complete degradation (100%) of contaminants even at low concentrations (

• NS
  Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province

  Award: 2024J01076
• HU
  Huaqiao University

  Award: 23XMK03