title: Acetaminophen degradation by electro-Fenton and photoelectro-Fenton using a double cathode electrochemical cell.
abstract: Acetaminophen is a widely used drug worldwide and is one of the most frequently detected in bodies of water making it a high priority trace pollutant. This study investigated the applicability of the electro-Fenton and photoelectro-Fenton processes using a double cathode electrochemical cell in the treatment of acetaminophen containing wastewater. The Box-Behnken design was used to determine the effects of initial Fe(2+) and H(2)O(2) concentrations and applied current density. Results showed that all parameters positively affected the degradation efficiency of acetaminophen with the initial Fe(2+) concentration being the most significant parameter for both processes. The acetaminophen removal efficiency for electro-Fenton was 98% and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal of 43% while a 97% acetaminophen removal and 42% COD removal were observed for the photoelectro-Fenton method operated at optimum conditions. The electro-Fenton process was only able to obtain 19% total organic carbon (TOC) removal while the photoelectro-Fenton process obtained 20%. Due to negligible difference between the treatment efficiencies of the two processes, the electro-Fenton method was proven to be more economically advantageous. The models obtained from the study were applicable to a wide range of acetaminophen concentrations and can be used in scale-ups. Thirteen different types of intermediates were identified and a degradation pathway was proposed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of the Philippines, 1011 Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines.
authors.forename: Mark Daniel G
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: de Luna
authors.forename: Mersabel L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Veciana
authors.forename: Chia-Chi
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Ming-Chun
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000082:Acetaminophen / Q000737:chemistry*; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques; D004566:Electrodes; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D007501:Iron / Q000737:chemistry*; D055668:Photochemical Processes
chemical_list: C045076:Fenton's reagent; D000082:Acetaminophen; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D007501:Iron