Electrochemical treatment of a simple azodye and analysis of the degradation products using high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection-tandem mass spectrometry

Single and Coupled Electrochemical Processes and Reactors for the Abatement of Organic Water Pollutants: A Critical Review

Traditional physicochemical and biological techniques, as well as advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), are often inadequate, ineffective, or expensive for industrial water reclamation. Within this context, the electrochemical technologies have found a niche where they can become dominant in the near future, especially for the abatement of biorefractory substances. In this critical review, some of the most promising electrochemical tools for the treatment of wastewater contaminated by organic pollutants are discussed in detail with the following goals: (1) to present the fundamental aspects of the selected processes; (2) to discuss the effect of both the main operating parameters and the reactor design on their performance; (3) to critically evaluate their advantages and disadvantages; and (4) to forecast the prospect of their utilization on an applicable scale by identifying the key points to be further investigated. The review is focused on the direct electrochemical oxidation, the indirect electrochemical oxidation mediated by electrogenerated active chlorine, and the coupling between anodic and cathodic processes. The last part of the review is devoted to the critical assessment of the reactors that can be used to put these technologies into practice.

Challenges and Opportunities for Electrochemical Processes as Next-Generation Technologies for the Treatment of Contaminated Water

Electrochemical processes have been extensively investigated for the removal of a range of organic and inorganic contaminants. The great majority of these studies were conducted using nitrate-, perchlorate-, sulfate-, and chloride-based electrolyte solutions. In actual treatment applications, organic and inorganic constituents may have substantial effects on the performance of electrochemical treatment. In particular, the outcome of electrochemical oxidation will depend on the concentration of chloride and bromide. Formation of chlorate, perchlorate, chlorinated, and brominated organics may compromise the quality of the treated effluent. A critical review of recent research identifies future opportunities and research needed to overcome major challenges that currently limit the application of electrochemical water treatment systems for industrial and municipal water and wastewater treatment. Given the increasing interest in decentralized wastewater treatment, applications of electrolytic systems for treatment of domestic wastewater, greywater, and source-separated urine are also included. To support future adoption of electrochemical treatment, new approaches are needed to minimize the formation of toxic byproducts and the loss of efficiency caused by mass transfer limitations and undesired side reactions. Prior to realizing these improvements, recognition of the situations where these limitations pose potential health risks is a necessary step in the design and operation of electrochemical treatment systems.

Metal oxide-coated anodes in wastewater treatment

Electrochemical oxidation is an effective wastewater treatment method. Metal oxide-coated substrates are commonly used as anodes in this process. This article compiles the developments in the fabrication, application, and performance of metal oxide anodes in wastewater treatment. It summarizes the preparative methods and mechanism of oxidation of organics on the metal oxide anodes. The discussion is focused on the application of SnO2, PbO2, IrO2, and RuO2 metal oxide anodes and their effectiveness in wastewater treatment process.

Treatment of aqueous and simulated wastewater of Luganil blue N dye--a new electrochemical approach

Treatment of aqueous solution containing Luganil blue N (LBN) azo dye was performed by an electrochemical method under galvanostatic conditions using an undivided cell with platinum electrodes as working and auxiliary electrodes and standard calomel as the reference electrode. The aqueous solution of NaCl was used as the supporting electrolyte. Preliminary voltammetric studies were performed to establish the mode of degradation process. The effect of polarity of the electrode on degradation and decolouration rate was studied. The effect of the supporting electrolytes, concentration of NaCl, electrolysis time, solution pH and initial dye concentration on degradation rate were evaluated. The optimized operating conditions were used for the treatment of simulated wastewater containing LBN dye. The electrolysis process was monitored by an ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer and measuring the chemical oxygen demand of the electrolysed solutions. The degradation products were identified using gas chromatograph/mass spectrometry studies, and a suitable mechanism for the LBN dye degradation was proposed.

Kinetic analysis of C.I. Acid Yellow 9 photooxidative decolorization by UV-visible and chemometrics

A kinetic study of the C.I. Acid Yellow 9 photooxidative decolorization process, using H(2)O(2) as oxidant, was carried out by chemometric analysis of the UV-visible data recorded during the process. The number of chemical species involved in the photooxidative decolorization process was established by singular value decomposition (SVD) and evolving factor analysis (EFA). Information about the different chemical species along the process was obtained from the spectral and concentration profiles recovered by soft multivariate curve resolution with alternating least squares (MCR-ALS). This information was complemented by mass spectrometry (MS) to postulate a reaction pathway. The dye photooxidative decolorization process involved consecutive and parallel reactions. The consecutive pathway consists of a first stage of dye oxidation followed by the rupture of the azo linkage to form smaller molecules that are degraded in a subsequent stage. The parallel reactions form products that are undetectable in the UV-visible spectra. Kinetic constants of the reactions postulated in the photooxidative process were retrieved by applying a hybrid hard and soft MCR-ALS resolution. All constants were similar for the consecutive stages and higher than those obtained for the parallel reactions.

Study of the electrochemical oxidation and reduction of C.I. Reactive Orange 4 in sodium sulphate alkaline solutions

Synthetic solutions of hydrolysed C.I. Reactive Orange 4, a monoazo textile dye commercially named Procion Orange MX-2R (PMX2R) and colour index number C.I. 18260, was exposed to electrochemical treatment under galvanostatic conditions and Na2SO4 as electrolyte. The influence of the electrochemical process as well as the applied current density was evaluated. Ti/SnO2-Sb-Pt and stainless steel electrodes were used as anode and cathode, respectively, and the intermediates generated on the cathode during electrochemical reduction were investigated. Aliquots of the solutions treated were analysed by UV-visible and FTIR-ATR spectroscopy confirming the presence of aromatic structures in solution when an electro-reduction was carried out. Electro-oxidation degraded both the azo group and aromatic structures. HPLC measures revealed that all processes followed pseudo-first order kinetics and decolourisation rates showed a considerable dependency on the applied current density. CV experiments and XPS analyses were carried out to study the behaviour of both PMX2R and intermediates and to analyse the state of the cathode after the electrochemical reduction, respectively. It was observed the presence of a main intermediate in solution after an electrochemical reduction whose chemical structure is similar to 2-amino-1,5-naphthalenedisulphonic acid. Moreover, the analysis of the cathode surface after electrochemical reduction reveals the presence of a coating layer with organic nature.

Influence of electrochemical reduction and oxidation processes on the decolourisation and degradation of C.I. Reactive Orange 4 solutions

The electrochemical treatment of wastewaters from textile industry is a promising treatment technique for substances which are resistant to biodegradation. This paper presents the results of the electrochemical decolourisation and degradation of C.I. Reactive Orange 4 synthetic solutions (commercially known as Procion Orange MX2R). Electrolyses were carried out under galvanostatic conditions in a divided or undivided electrolytic cell. Therefore, oxidation, reduction or oxido-reduction experiences were tested. Ti/SnO(2)-Sb-Pt and stainless steel electrodes were used as anode and cathode, respectively. Degradation of the dye was followed by TOC, total nitrogen, COD and BOD(5) analyses. TOC removal after an oxidation process was higher than after oxido-reduction while COD removal after this last process was about 90%. Besides, the biodegradability of final samples after oxido-reduction process was studied and an improvement was observed. UV-Visible spectra revealed the presence of aromatic structures in solution when an electro-reduction was carried out while oxido-reduction process degraded both azo group and aromatic structures. HPLC analyses indicated the presence of a main intermediate after the reduction process with a chemical structure closely similar to 2-amine-1, 5-naphthalenedisulfonic acid. The lowest decolourisation rate corresponded to electrochemical oxidation. In these experiences a higher number of intermediates were generated as HPLC analysis demonstrated. The decolourisation process for the three electrochemical processes studied presented a pseudo-first order kinetics.

Assessment of the functionality of a pilot-scale reactor and its potential for electrochemical degradation of calmagite, a sulfonated azo-dye

Electrochemical degradation (ECD) is a promising technology for in situ remediation of diversely contaminated environmental matrices by application of a low level electric potential gradient. This investigation, prompted by successful bench-scale ECD of trichloroethylene, involved development, parametric characterization and evaluation of a pilot-scale electrochemical reactor for degradation of calmagite, a sulfonated azo-dye used as a model contaminant. The reactor has two chambers filled with granulated graphite for electrodes. The system has electrical potential, current, conductivity, pH, temperature, water-level and flow sensors for automated monitoring. The reactor supports outdoor and fail-safe venting, argon purging, temperature regulation and auto-shutdown for safety. Treatment involves recirculating the contaminated solution through the electrode beds at small flow velocities mimicking low fluid-flux in groundwater and submarine sediments. The first phase of the investigation involved testing of the reactor components, its parametric probes and the automated data acquisition system for performance as designed. The results showed hydraulic stability, consistent pH behavior, marginal temperature rise (<5 degrees C) and overall safe and predictable performance under diverse conditions. Near complete removal of calmagite was seen at 3-10V of applied voltage in 8-10h. The effects of voltage and strength of electrolyte on degradation kinetics have been presented. Further, it was observed from the absorption spectra that as calmagite degrades over time, new peaks appear. These peaks were associated with degradation products identified using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. A reaction mechanism for ECD of calmagite has also been proposed.