Notice of RetractionProcess mechanism of formaldehyde degradation in aqueous solution using the UV-Fenton method

Notice of Retraction

After careful and considered review of the content of this paper by a duly constituted expert committee, this paper has been found to be in violation of IEEE´s Publication Principles.

We hereby retract the content of this paper. Reasonable effort should be made to remove all past references to this paper.

The presenting author of this paper has the option to appeal this decision by contacting TPII@ieee.org.

This study was performed to further reveal the reaction mechanism and kinetic characters of UV-Fenton process for the degradation of formaldehyde (HCHO) in a batch photochemical reactor. The concentration changes of hydrogen peroxide, ferrous ions, and the intermediate products were analyzed. Through comparing the rate constants (k) of H₂O₂ consumption and the variation of Fe²⁺ concentration in the UVH₂O₂, Fenton and UV-Fenton processes, it indicates that the Fe²⁺ and the UV light has a synergistic effect for the degradation of HCHO in the UV-Fenton system. The introduction of UV accelerates the reduction of Fe³⁺, and makes the cycle of iron obtain more paths. The products in the UV-Fenton reaction were analyzed by a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and a chemical oxygen demand analyzer. Based on the results, the reaction pathways of HCHO degradation in the UV-Fenton system were proposed. The rate constants of the two consecutive first-order reactions in the degradation of HCHO are respectively k₁ = 0.543 min^-1 and k₂ = 0.045 min^-1. The mineralizing of formic acid is the rate-controlled step of the reaction.