This paper deals with the degradation kinetics of an anionic surfactant (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS) under UV and UV-H2O2
advanced oxidation process (AOP). Experiments were performed in a batch reactor which emits monochromatic light centered at
253.7 nm. The photon flux of the UV reactor was 1.9(±0.1)×10-4 Einstein/L-min. Under direct UV, only 45% SDS degradation was
observed at a fluence of 40.65 J/cm2 for initial SDS concentration of 0.35 mM. The apparent fluence-based pseudo-first order rate
constant was found to be 1.77(±0.24)×10-5 cm2/mJ. However, very fast degradation (almost 100%) was observed for UV-H2O2,
process at a fluence of 0.45 J/cm2. The apparent fluence-based rate constant in this case was found to be about 450 times higher
than direct photolysis. Further, using a probe compound (para chlorobenzoic acid) competition kinetics study was performed to
determine the second order hydroxyl radical rate constant for SDS. The rate constant thus obtained was 8.18 (±0.26)×109 M-1 s-1.
Effects of different operating parameters like H2O2 concentration, initial SDS concentration and water quality parameters, including
pH (7 - 12), alkalinity (0 - 10 mM HCO3-) and nitrate concentration (0 - 1 mM as NO3-), were investigated. The observed rate
constants were influenced by all the studied parameters and these parameters were optimized for field application. Degradation of
SDS was also carried out in municipal wastewater. In conclusion, UV-H2O2 AOP is an efficient treatment method for SDS in
environmental matrices.