| Summary: | Diclofenac sodium was extensively used for treating arthritis, osteoarthritis and skeletal muscular injuries, which ultimately caused troubles for aquatic organisms as well as human beings. In this study, homogeneous catalytic advanced oxidation processes, including Fe<sup>2+</sup>/persulfate, Fe<sup>2+</sup>/peroxymonosulfate and Fe<sup>2+</sup>/H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>, were used for the degradation of diclofenac sodium in water, without using UV-C light. About 89, 82 and 54% DCF sodium was decomposed by Fe<sup>2+</sup>/persulfate, Fe<sup>2+</sup>/peroxymonosulfate and Fe<sup>2+</sup>/H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>, respectively, in 60 min. The degradation of diclofenac sodium followed the <i>pseudo first-order</i> kinetics, in all cases. The degradation efficiency of diclofenac sodium was significantly affected in the presence of various anions, such as NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>, HCO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup> and SO<sub>4</sub><sup>2−</sup>. The mineralization studies revealed 62, 45 and 32% total carbon removal by Fe<sup>2+</sup>/persulfate, Fe<sup>2+</sup>/peroxymonosulfate and Fe<sup>2+</sup>/H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>, respectively, in 60 min. In addition, the degradation byproducts of diclofenac sodium were determined by FTIR analysis. The results revealed that the Fe<sup>2+</sup>/oxidant system, particularly Fe<sup>2+</sup>/persulfate, was a promising technology for the elimination of toxic pharmaceuticals, such as diclofenac sodium, from the water environment.
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