Degradation of Poly(acrylic acid) in Aqueous Solution by Using O₃ Microbubble

Abstract

Polyacrylic acid (PAA) aqueous solution was treated with O₃ microbubbles and O₃ water, there was no difference in decrease in molecular weight of PAA due to the presence or absence of microbubbles. Regardless of dissolved O₃ concentration, O₃ microbubbles alone did not cause reduction in TOC and mineralization did not proceed. In the advanced oxidation proses with hydrogen peroxide added, the molecular weight and TOC decreased. It is considered that active oxygen is generated from hydrogen peroxide by advanced oxidation and PAA is decomposed. From these results, it is no considered generation of reactive oxygen species by microbubbles in the decomposition of PAA.