Efficient removal of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) from industrial/military wastewater using anodic oxidation on boron-doped diamond electrodes

With growing public concern about water quality particular focus should be placed on organic micropollutants, which are harmful to the environment and people. Hence, the objective of this research is to enhance the security and resilience of water resources by developing an efficient system for reclaiming industrial/military wastewater and protecting recipients from the toxic and cancerogenic explosive compound-2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), which has been widely distributed in the environment. This research used an anodic oxidation (AO) process on a boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrode for the TNT removal from artificial and real-life matrices: marine water and treated wastewater. During experiments, TNT concentrations were significantly decreased, reaching the anodic degradation efficiency of above 92% within two hours and > 99.9% after six hours of environmental sample treatment. The presented results show the great potential of AO performed on BDD anodes for full-scale application in the industry and military sectors for TNT removal.

Optimization of aripiprazole synthesis

A series of aripiprazole (AR3) syntheses were performed at laboratory scale (10 mmol of the ARI substrate) in order to optimize the amount of another substrate AR2, as well as Na2CO3, ethanol and varying the reaction time. The reaction parameters were chosen according to the D-optimal plans. A high conversion ratio, about 90-99%, was obtained. Purity of crude product (AR3) was determined by HPLC. Molar content of crude reaction product was predicted theoretically with the use of the mass balance and the corresponding HPLC parameters. The theoretical predictions were verified with the potentiometric and thermogravimetric analysis of selected samples. Based on the predicted molar content of reaction mixtures, a series of reaction response surfaces was calculated and optimal set of reaction parameters for aripiprazole synthesis was determined.