Decontamination of Wastewaters Containing Organics by Electrochemical Methods

Abstract

The ultimate goal of the sustainable wastewater management is the protection of the environment in a manner commensurate with public health and socio-economic concerns [1]. Industrial effluents containing toxic and refractory organic pollutants cause severe environmental problems and their removal or degradation is required. Industries like petrochemical, chemical, pulp and paper, dyeing and pharmaceutical generate a variety of toxic organic compounds, and among them, phenol derivates have received an increased attention in the last years [2-4]. From phenol derivates, the most toxic compounds are the chlorinated and nitro-substituted phenols, which are used as pesticides and bactericides [3]. In most countries, the maximum allowable concentration of phenol derivates in the effluent streams is required to be less than 1 ppm [5], because these derivates cause several serious health problems: e.g., liver and kidney damage and blood pressure drop, cardiac toxicity including weak pulse, cardiac depression and reduced blood pressure [6]. Hence, phenol derivates must be treated to satisfy the stringent water quality regulations and the demand for recycling of water in the process [2]. The objective of Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) Directive [7] regarding the industrial effluent reuse as raw water into production process represents a challenge for the wastewater treatment technologies. Usually, for the treatment of the industrial effluents containing refractory organics, the conventional wastewater treatment for organics removal or destruction are ineffective to reach the water quality appropriate for its reusing, and new alternative methods are required.