Abatement of waste-water biorefractory organics via electro-oxidative treatment.
The electrochemical oxidation of coumaric acid, a biorefractory compound present in several industrial waste waters, has been investigated by use of Pt-Ti anodes and at electrolyte concentration (0.02 N NaCl or Na2SO4) low enough to allow direct dischargeability of the waste water into superficial water basins according to the Italian law (DL 152/11-5-99). Particularly, the role of the electrolyte over the conversion rate has been assessed. The obtained results show that the oxidation process should take place both at the electrode surface and in the bulk of the solution, via electrochemically-generated oxidising species (H2O2, persulfates, Cl2, NaClO). The faster coumaric acid abatement rates were found with chloride based electrolytes, which, however, lead to the formation of non-biodegradable small-molecular-weight chlorinated hydrocarbons.
Saracco
G
G
Dipartimento di Scienza dei Materiali ed Ingegneria Chimica, Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi, 24, 10129 Torino. saracco@polito.it
Aigotti
R
R
Solarino
L
L
Specchia
V
V
Maja
M
M
D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003373:Coumaric Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D004563:Electrochemistry; D004573:Electrolytes; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
D003373:Coumaric Acids; D004573:Electrolytes; D007220:Industrial Waste; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical