Abstract
In this paper the potentiality of two types of DSAâ commercial electrodes, for electrochemical treatment of effluents, is investigated. Oxide anodes, with nominal composition of 70TiO2/30RuO2 and 45IrO2/55Ta2O5, were used in a flow-cell reactor for the electrooxidation of phenol. Comparative results were presented as phenol concentration decay as a function of electrolysis time, as well as COD and TOC concentration reduction. The cell reactor was operated at current densities, ranging from 15 to 150 mA cm-2 and solution linear velocity was 0.24 m s-1. Results reported in this paper showed that phenol and quinones were degraded to a very low concentration, besides only a small portion of the organic carbon is reduced. Starting from 100 mg L-1, after five hours of electrolysis at 100 mA cm-2, concentrations reached 0.4 mg L-1 of phenol, 1 mg L-1 of hydroquinone, 7 mg L-1 of benzoquinone and TOC was reduced by 35%.
Highlights
Biological and chemical conventional oxidative treatments of aqueous effluent streams, containing organic compounds, are often efficient in complying with legislation
By using the commercial oxide coatings in the flow cell reactor, comparative results were presented as phenol concentration decay as a function of electrolysis time as well as chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total organic carbon (TOC) reduction
A U-2000 Hitachi spectrophotometer was used for COD measurements, while TOC values were obtained in a TOC 5000 Shimadzu equipment
Summary
Biological and chemical conventional oxidative treatments of aqueous effluent streams, containing organic compounds, are often efficient in complying with legislation. This feature is not enough nowadays, when environmental considerations are permanently present in the agenda. Conventional technology for wastewater chemical treatment, demands transportation, storing and handling of hazardous chemicals and leads to the generation of toxic sludge. In this field, electrochemistry may offer an attractive alternative for treating aqueous streams containing organic compounds by oxidation, via simultaneous oxygen evolution, at an anode surface. Electrolytic process is probably the most adequate tool in the aqueous effluent treatment, ideally suited to the present age where environmental considerations are always to the fore.[1]
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