Photo-assisted electrochemical degradation of the commercial herbicide atrazine.

This paper presents a degradation study of the pesticide atrazine using photo-assisted electrochemical methods at a dimensionally stable anode (DSA(®)) of nominal composition Ti/Ru(0.3)Ti(0.7)O(2) in a prototype reactor. The effects of current density, electrolyte flow-rate, as well as the use of different atrazine concentrations are reported. The results indicate that the energy consumption is substantially reduced for the combined photochemical and electrochemical processes when compared to the isolated systems. It is observed that complete atrazine removal is achieved at low current densities when using the combined method, thus reducing the energy required to operate the electrochemical system. The results also include the investigation of the phytotoxicity of the treated solutions.

Study of photo-assisted electrochemical degradation of carbaryl at dimensionally stable anodes (DSA).

This paper presents the results concerning the degradation of the pesticide carbaryl comparing two methods: electrochemical (EC) and photo-assisted electrochemical (PAEC). The experimental variables of applied current density, electrolyte flow-rate and initial carbaryl concentration were investigated. The results demonstrate that the electrochemical degradation of carbaryl was greatly enhanced when simultaneous UV light was applied. The greatest difference between the PAEC and EC method was apparent when lower current densities were applied. The extent of COD removal was much enhanced for the combined method, independent of the applied current density. It should be noted that the complete removal of carbaryl was achieved with out the need to add NaCl to the reaction mixture, avoiding the risk of chlorinated organic species formation.

Decolourisation of real textile waste using electrochemical techniques: effect of electrode composition.

The present paper presents the study of the decolourisation of real textile effluent by constant current electrolysis in a flow-cell using a DSA type material. The effect of using different anode materials (Ti/Ru(0.3)Ti(0.7)O(2); Ti/Ir(0.3)Ti(0.7)O(2); Ti/Ru(X)Sn(1-X)O(2), where X=0.1, 0.2 or 0.3) on the efficiency of colour removal is discussed. Attempts to perform galvanostatic oxidation (40 and 60 mA cm(-2)) on the as-received effluent demonstrate that colour removal and total organic carbon (TOC) removal are limited. In this case the greatest degree of colour removal is achieved when anode containing 90% SnO(2) is used. If the conductivity of the effluent is increased by adding NaCl (0.1 mol L(-1)) appreciable colour/TOC removal is observed. The efficiencies of colour and TOC removal are discussed in terms of the energy per order (E(EO)/kW h m(-3)order(-1)) and energy consumption (E(C)/kW h kg(-1)TOC), respectively. Finally, the extent of colour removal is compared to consent levels presented in the literature.

Photo-assisted electrochemical oxidation of atrazine on a commercial Ti/Ru0.3Ti0.7O2 DSA electrode.

This paper presents the study of the degradation of the pesticide atrazine, employing photoassisted electrochemical methods at a dimensionally stable anode of nominal composition Ti/Ru0.3Ti0.7O2. All experiments were performed in a flow cell, and the effects of current density, electrolyte flow rate, as well the use of different supporting electrolytes are reported. The results indicate that the energy per order (E(EO)/kW h m(-3) order(-1)) is substantially reduced when the photochemical and electrochemical techniques are combined. It is observed that complete atrazine removal is achieved at low current densities when the combined method is employed, thus reducing the energy required to operate the electrochemical system. The study of the electrolyte flow rate through the cell indicates that the photoassisted removal of atrazine is controlled by mass transfer. The degradation of commercial atrazine solutions is also presented, and the results show that the efficiency of atrazine removal is reduced compared with that of simulated solutions, due to the presence of the additional components present in the commercial formula.

Decolorisation of real textile waste using electrochemical techniques: effect of the chloride concentration.

The present paper presents the study of the decolorisation of real textile effluent by constant current electrolysis in a flow-cell using a Ti/Ru(0.3)Ti(0.7)O(2) DSA type electrode. The effect of increasing the chloride ion concentration on the efficiency of colour removal is discussed. Attempts to perform galvanostatic oxidation (40 and 60 mA cm(-2)) on the as-received effluent demonstrate that colour removal and total organic carbon (TOC) removal are limited. If the conductivity of the effluent is increased by adding 0.033 mol L(-1) Na(2)SO(4), little increase in the extent of colour/TOC removal is observed. However, when Na(2)SO(4) is substituted, stepwise, with NaCl (while maintaining the ionic strength constant) appreciable colour/TOC removal is observed. The study of the effect of increasing the current density demonstrates that total colour removal is possible at high currents. The efficiencies of colour and TOC removal are discussed in terms of the Energy per order (E(EO)/kWh m(-3)order(-1)) and Energy consumption (E(C)/kWh kg(-1)TOC), respectively. Finally, the extent of colour removal is compared to consent levels presented in the literature.

Electrochemical degradation of carbaryl on oxide electrodes.

This paper presents the study of a prospective electrochemical treatment system for the pesticide carbaryl. Three different dimensionally stable anodes were employed (Ti/Ru0.3 Ti0.7 O2, Ti/Ru0.3 Sn0.7 O2 and Ti/Ir0.3 Ti0.7 O2) and the effect of current density (10, 20, 40 and 60 mA cm(-2)) and supporting electrolyte (0.1 mol L(-1) NaCl and 0.033 mol L(-1) H2SO4) is discussed. All the electrodes present a low level of carbaryl and total organic carbon removal in H2SO4, even at highly positive potentials, indicating that the application of current is not, in itself, sufficient to promote effective oxidation of the pesticide and its products. However, in the presence of NaCl all the electrodes used present rapid diminishing of the carbaryl and total organic carbon content, thus suggesting enhanced activity. The results demonstrate the participation of partially oxidised Cl- species at the electrode surface, which act as an intermediate in the electron transfer between the pesticide molecule and the electrode. Thus, under such conditions, the feasibility of the electrochemical route for the treatment (total or partial) of waste that contains carbaryl is evident.

Use of electrochemical oxidation process as post-treatment for the effluents of a UASB reactor treating cellulose pulp mill wastewater.

The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of the electrochemical oxidation process as a post-treatment for the effluents of a bench-scale UASB reactor treating simulated wastewater from an unbleached pulp plant. The oxidation process was performed using a single compartment cell with two plates as electrodes. The anode was made of Ti/Ru0.3Ti0.7O2 and the cathode of stainless steel. The following variables were evaluated: current density (75, 150 and 225 mA cm(-2)) and recirculation flow rate in the electrochemical cell (0.22, 0.45 and 0.90 L h(-1)). The increase in current density from 75 to 225 mA cm(-2) did not increased the color removal efficiency for the tested flow rates, 0.22, 0.45 and 0.90 L h(-1), however the energy consumption increased significantly. The results indicated the technical feasibility of the electrochemical treatment as post-treatment for UASB reactors treating wastewaters from pulp and paper plants.

Oxidation of the pesticide atrazine at DSA electrodes.

This paper presents the study of the electrochemical oxidation of the pesticide atrazine at a Ti/Ru(0.3)Ti(0.7)O(2) dimensionally stable anodes (DSA). The effect of using different supporting electrolytes (NaCl, NaOH, NaNO(3), NaClO(4), H(2)SO(4) and Na(2)SO(4)) during the galvanostatic electrolysis of atrazine was investigated. It was observed that the removal of atrazine and total organic carbon (TOC) was only achieved at appreciable rates when NaCl was used as the supporting electrolyte, due to the oxidising species formed in this electrolyte (e.g. ClO(-)). Variation of the NaCl concentration demonstrated that, although only low concentrations of NaCl are necessary to result in the complete removal of atrazine in solution, TOC removal is almost linearly dependent on the quantity of NaCl in solution. Examination of the applied current density indicates that the efficiency of TOC removal reaches a maximum at 60 mA cm(-2). Testing of alternative electrode materials containing SnO(2) did not improve the efficiency of atrazine removal in Na(2)SO(4), but in NaCl a small increase was observed. Overall there appears to be no great advantage in using SnO(2)-containing electrodes over the Ti/Ru(0.3)Ti(0.7)O(2) electrode.