Electrocatalytic degradation of phenol in acidic and saline wastewater
Minghua Zhou1, Zucheng Wu, Dahui Wang
1Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310027, China.
Abstract:
The electrocatalytic degradation of low concentration of phenol (100 800mgL(-1)) as a model contaminant for wastewater treatment was studied on modified beta-PbO2 anode. Various affected factors such as current density (7.5-30 mAcm(-2)), reaction temperature (5-60 degrees C), pH (2-6), salinity of the electrolyte (0.5-10 g L(-1) K2SO4), and circulation rate (100-2400 mLmin(-1)) were investigated. Phenol at a concentration level of 100 mg L(-1) could be completely degraded within 30 min under the current density of 7.5 mA cm(-2) with the addition of K2SO4 (1.0 g L(-1)) at pH 5.6 and temperature 60 degrees C. The method showed promising application for treating phenolic wastewater of high salinity and acidity. Analysis of the intermediates of the phenol degradation products indicated good catalytic characteristics of the anode for breaking down the aromatic compounds to organic acids. The overall degradation of phenol was considered a controlled process of mass-transfer. According to the proposed model and Arrhenius's Law, the activation energy was calculated 23.8 kJ mol(-1).
Related Concept Videos
Acidity and Basicity of Alcohols and Phenols
Hydrolysis of Chlorobenzene to Phenol: Dow Process
Oxidation of Phenols to Quinones
o-hydroxy phenols are oxidized to o-quinones and p-hydroxy phenols to p-quinones. Such redox reactions involve the transfer of two electrons and two protons. The reversible redox property is crucial in...
Microbial Bioremediation of Pesticides
Microbial Wastewater Treatment
Biological Treatment of Effluent and Waste Water


