Mineralization of aqueous pentachlorophenolate by anodic contact glow discharge electrolysis

Exhaustive mineralization of pentachlorophenolate ion (PCP) in phosphate buffer was carried out using anodic contact glow discharge electrolysis (CGDE), in which plasma was sustained between the electrolyte and anode. During CGDE, PCP degraded smoothly. The amount of total organic carbon decreased significantly, indicating the eventual conversion of the carbon atoms of benzene nucleus to inorganic carbons. Furthermore, chlorine atoms in PCP were liberated as chloride ions. As a primary intermediate product, 2,3,5,6-tetrachloro-1,4-benzoquinone was detected, and oxalate and formate as byproducts were also found. It was revealed that disappearance of PCP obeyed first-order kinetics. The reaction rate was generally unaffected by both O2 and inert gases in the cell, although it decreased by raising initial pH of solution. In addition, a plausible reaction pathway involving hydroxyl radical was proposed.