Solar‐Activated Persulphate Oxidation of Acetaminophen in a Compound Parabolic Reactor: A Seasonal Investigation

ABSTRACT This study focuses on acetaminophen degradation through sunlight‐activated persulphate oxidation under 1:10, 1:50, 1:100 and 1:500 acetaminophen:persulphate molar doses during the fall, spring and summer seasons between 2022 and 2023 period using a solar reactor surrounded by a compound parabolic concentrator. The results showed that the spring and summer seasons were comparable with respect to acetaminophen removal, which showed 33% and 36%, respectively, under the 1:10 acetaminophen:persulphate molar dose. The removal percentage increased with the increased molar dose, as 94% removal occurred after 90 min under the 1:50 molar dose and 97% under the 1:100 molar dose within 45 min. The degradation curves followed first‐order kinetics, and a reaction rate constant of 0.0634 1/min was observed when the 1:100 molar dose was applied. Mineralization reached 90% under the 1:500 molar dose condition and 44% for the 1:100 molar dose. Two by‐products were formed and vanished within 30 min, as well as the persulphate ion, which was present throughout the reaction according to chromatographic analysis. According to the findings of this study, the solar/persulphate system in the treatment of acetaminophen, which is categorized as an emerging contaminant, is a promising application, as it can be used all year round in all sunlight‐abundant seasons. A 99% removal of acetaminophen was observed when an effluent matrix was applied.