Liquid phase mineralization of gel‐type anion exchange resin by a hybrid process of Fenton dissolution followed by sonication and wet air oxidation

A hybrid process of Fenton dissolution followed by sonication and wet air oxidation (WAO), has been demonstrated to mineralize strongly basic anion exchange resin (gel type). The solid anion exchange resin beads could be dissolved in water by Fenton process wherein the copper‐catalyzed hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) reaction makes the resin hydrophilic by the disintegration of polymer matrix. Sonication of the dissolved resin thus obtained made the waste stream more amenable to WAO. Parameters for Fenton dissolution and sonication were studied to aid effective mineralization by WAO. The kinetic studies of WAO were performed using copper sulfate (CuSO4) as the homogeneous catalyst, in the temperature range of 483–523 K. It is thus possible to address the disposal of solid ion exchange resin by the hybrid process, described here.