One of the most important sources of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in biological systems is the Fenton reaction. In this, the Fe2+ or Fe3+ reacts with H2O2 to produce ROS as the hydroxyl radical (∙OH), superoxide radical (O2-) and singlet oxygen (¹O2). The main ROS, responsible for the high oxidizing power of the Fenton reaction, is not clear. Some authors claim that the principal reactive species is ∙OH, while others propose a ferryl specie (Fe4+ or [FeO]2+)(1,2). Recently, have been proposed that the kind of reaction species produced depends mainly of pH and the iron composition of the coordination sphere. This is highlighted for Fe³+, because in mono and (some) bis-complexes Fe3+ is reduced to Fe2+ and there are some positions occupied by water or hydroxide ligands, readily to be exchanged by H2O2. On the other hand, in tris-complexes there are not any positions occupied by water or hydroxide, avoiding the formation of peroxo-complexes, necessary for Fenton or Fenton like reaction. The 1,2-dihydroxybenzenes (DHBs) have been described as modulators of Fenton reaction. The DHBs driven Fenton reaction have been used for environmental applications as an advanced oxidation process. Furthermore, these systems participate in different biological process, as the wood biodegradation by fungi and oxidative stress in neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, the effect of 1,2-dihydroxybenzenes on the activated species production by the Fenton and Fenton like reaction will be discussed and its participation in different systems.

A methodology to decrease the chromium concentration Cr(VI) existing in tannery discharges is suggested. The proposal is based on a photocatalytic process in which the effluent is irradiated by UV light in presence of TiO2 as a catalyst employing formaldehyde as a reductor agent. Were employed different Cr(VI) solutions of 100 mg/L as models at different pH, catalyst quanties and irradiation times. The variable optimization was made from multivaried analysis. The better conditions for to reduction a 50 ml of a Cr(VI) of 100 mg/L solutions were pH 2 at 20 minutes of UV irradiation and 40 mg of TiO2 load. In these conditions it was possible a 97.8 % of Cr(VI) reduction level. For a real effluent from tannery industries the reduction level was 81.3 %.

Se propone una metodología para disminuir la concentración de Cr(VI) presente en efluentes de curtiembre sin tratamiento previo. La propuesta se basa en un proceso fotocatalítico donde se irradia el efluente por un determinado tiempo con luz ultravioleta en presencia de óxido de titanio como catalizador, empleando como agente reductor formaldehido. Se utilizó sistemas modelo de soluciones de Cr(VI) de 100 mg/L a distintos pH con diferentes cantidades de catalizador y tiempos de irradiación. La optimización de las variables se realizó a través de análisis multi-variado Las condiciones óptimas para reducir 50 ml de Cr(VI) de 100 mg/L, se obtuvo a pH 2, con un tiempo de irradiación de 20 minutos y 40,0 mg de TiO2, logrando para el sistema modelo un 97,8 % de reducción de Cr(VI) y para el efluente de curtiembre un 81,3 %.

This paper shows the assembly of an ozonization system to be used in laboratory scale, mainly to study effluent treatability. The system is simple, practical and provides easy acquisition of data when interfaced to a microcomputer. The performance of ozone generation and K La values are also described.