A comparative study on oxidation of disperse dyes by electrochemical process, ozone, hypochlorite and Fenton reagent

The results of an experimental study on the destruction of disperse dyes by chemical oxidation using ozone, hypochlorite and Fenton reagent (H2O2 + Fe2+) are compared with the data obtained by electrochemical oxidation. While the results obtained during hypochlorite oxidation were not satisfactory (only 35% reduction of colour was achieved at a dose of 6 g dm(-3)), ozonation enabled colour to be reduced by up to 90% (ozone dose 0.5 g dm(-3)). A high decolourisation degree was however accompanied by a low removal (10% efficiency) of chemical oxygen demand (COD). Trials of electrochemical oxidation proved this process much more efficient. Under the conditions of an acidic pH in 40 min of electrolysis a 79% elimination of COD was achieved at the Ti/Pt-Ir anode, which proved the best of seven different tested materials. Simultaneously 90% colour was removed. Indirect oxidation, by means of chlorine-deriving compounds, was the predominating process leading to the pollutants depletion. The best treatment results were obtained with the Fenton process, which under the optimal pH equal to 3 and hydrogen peroxide and ferrous sulphide dose of 600 and 550 mg dm(-3), respectively, resulted in a final effluent being colourless and with the residual COD equal to 100 mg dm(-3).