RT Journal Article T1 A chemometric approach to the interaction of hydrogen peroxide and thermally activated persulfate in the removal of aromatic compounds. A1 Faggiano, Antonio A1 Martínez Piernas, Ana Belén A1 Ricciardi, Maria A1 Motta, Oriana A1 Fiorentino, Antonino A1 Proto, Antonio K1 Aguas residuales - Purificación K1 Aguas residuales - Oxidación K1 Fenoles K1 Biodegradación K1 Modelos matemáticos AB This study evaluates the combined use of H₂O₂ and thermally activated S₂O₈2⁻ (T-PDS) for the degradation of phenolic compounds (PhOH) in wastewater, aiming to limit or eliminate sludge production. Phenolic compounds are common in industrial effluents, and their effective removal is crucial for reducing environmental impact. The study employs Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to optimise critical variables such as temperature, pH, and oxidant concentrations. Optimal conditions were determined to be a temperature of 70 °C, pH 5, and a H2O2/S2O82− molar ratio of 1:6. Under these conditions, the system achieved an 89% PhOH degradation efficiency, reducing the concentration from 10 to 1.2 mg L−1 after 120 min of treatment. The kinetic analysis revealed a rapid initial reduction in PhOH concentration by 38% (from 10 to 6.2 mg L−1) within the first 15 min, followed by a slower degradation phase. This suggests a complex reaction mechanism, likely influenced by oxidant consumption and intermediate formation. The model demonstrated high precision, with R2 values of 0.99 for PhOH and S2O82−and slightly lower for H₂O₂ (R2 = 0.98). A brief cost analysis estimated the treatment cost at €6.86 per cubic meter of wastewater, showing the economic viability of the process. Additionally, eliminating sludge formation reduces operational costs related to sludge management and disposal, making the H2O2/T-PDS system a promising solution for large-scale industrial applications in sustainable wastewater treatment. PB Elsevier YR 2025 FD 2025-01 LK https://hdl.handle.net/10630/41253 UL https://hdl.handle.net/10630/41253 LA eng NO Antonio Faggiano, Ana B. Martínez-Piernas, Maria Ricciardi, Oriana Motta, Antonino Fiorentino, Antonio Proto, A chemometric approach to the interaction of hydrogen peroxide and thermally activated persulfate in the removal of aromatic compounds, Journal of Environmental Management, Volume 373, 2025, 123957, ISSN 0301-4797, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.123957 DS RIUMA. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Málaga RD 19 ene 2026