Neural Network on Photodegradation of Octylphenol using Natural and Artificial UV Radiation

Abstract

The present paper comes up with an experimental design meant to point out the factors interferingin octylphenol’s degradation in surface waters under solar radiation, underlining each factor’sinfluence on the process observable (concentration of p-octylphenol). Multiple linear regressionanalysis and artificial neural network (Multi-Layer Perceptron type) were applied in order to obtaina mathematical model capable to explain the action of UV-light upon synthetic solutions of OP inultra-pure water (MilliQ type). Neural network proves to be the most efficient method in predictingthe evolution of OP concentration during photodegradation process. Thus, determination in neuralnetwork’s case has almost double value versus the regression analysis.

Keywords

• Octylphenol
• Photodegradation
• Regression analysis
• Backward stepwise method