Comparison of Aniline Degradation by Fenton and Electro‐Fenton Reactors Using Plate and Rod Electrodes

Abstract

Aniline degradation was investigated using the conventional Fenton process and an electro‐Fenton (EF) process with plate and rod electrode EF reactors. The performance of the two EF reactors was evaluated by determining the effect of important parameters (Fe2+, H2O2, and aniline concentrations) on the aniline removal efficiency and the initial aniline degradation rate. The change in the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) and ratio BOD5/COD of a high concentration of aniline were also studied.Experimental results reveal that compared with conventional Fenton process, aniline degradation and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal in the EF process increased 43% and 10%, respectively. In the two EF reactors, the aniline was completely degraded (100%) when the ratio of [H2O2]:[Fe2+]:[aniline] was 5.8:0.1:1. Within the range of Fenton's reagent used in the two reactors, controlling the H2O2 concentration was the key point of promoting the aniline oxidation. The plate electrode system had a higher efficiency than rod electrode system in terms of H2O2 efficiency, due to the reactor design of decreasing the electrical resistance. Treatment with a high concentration aniline increased biodegradability (BOD5 and ratio BOD5/COD) of pollutant when plate and rod electrode EF reactors were used. © 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 32: 1111–1117, 2013