Electrochemical degradation of Amaranth aqueous solution on ACF

Abstract

The degradation of Amaranth, a kind of azo dye, has been studied under galvanostatic model with activated carbon fiber (ACF) electrode in aqueous solution with electrochemical method. The ACF was used as anode and cathode, respectively for the decolorization process. The onset oxidation potential and reduction potential for Amaranth on ACF were respectively ascertained at 0.6 and −0.4 V. During the range of −1.1 to 0.50 mA cm −2, the decolorization was clarified into three processes as electroreduction, adsorption and electrooxidation. There were little contributions to the color and COD removals for the process of adsorption. The color removal can be up to 99% when the current density was 0.50 mA cm −2. The maximum COD removal was 52% for the process of electrooxidation. Hundred percent color removal was obtained when the current density of −1.0 mA cm −2 was applied. The maximum COD removal was 62% for the electroreduction. The COD removal results from the adsorption of products for the decolorization process of electrooxidation or electroreduction.