Introduction: The most important affect of natural organic matters in water is their reaction with chlorine and producing of disinfection byproducts that are carcinogenic. Humic acid is most common natural organic materials of surface water. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are methods for the removal of organics from aqueous solutions. Application of electron beam radiation is one of these methods for water treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of catalytic oxidation process of electron beam radiation with potassium persulfate in removal of humic acid from aqueous solutions. Methods: This experimental study was performed in laboratory scale. In this study, effect of pH (4 -10), initial concentration of potassium persulfate (0.1- 0.5 mmol/100cc), different radiation doses of electron beam (1-15 kGy) and the initial concentration of Humic acid (10-50 mg/l) in removal of humic acid were studied. Electron irradiation performed using an electron accelerator model TT200. Residual concentrations of humic acid in the samples determined by spectrophotometer UV/Vis at a wavelength of 254 nm. Results: Based on the results, changes in pH had little effect on the Humic acid removal efficiency. The average, with increasing of pH from 4 to 10, the removal efficiency of humic acid from 72.59% to 73.36% increased, respectively. The results showed that increasing of the dose from 1 to 15 kGy, humic acid removal efficiency increases. Based on results by increasing of persulfate concentration, the removal efficiency increased so that with increasing of concentration of potassium persulfate from 0.1 to 0.5 mmol/100cc, removal efficiency from 69.43% to 83.82% was increased. Kinetic experiments showed that the decomposition of humic acid by electron beam radiation followed the second-order kinetic. Conclusion: The data from this study showed that the aqueous solution containing acid Humic is decomposed effectively by electron beams irradiation. Addition of potassium persulfate can be have significant improvements in removal efficiency of humic acid in the presence of electron beam.

Keywords: water treatment, humic acid, advanced oxidation processes, electron beam irradiation, potassium persulfate

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