Electrochemical degradation of 4-chlorophenol in aqueous solution using modified PbO(2) anode

Water Sci Technol. 2012;66(11):2468-74. doi: 10.2166/wst.2012.440.

Abstract

The electrochemical oxidation of 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) in aqueous solution was studied by electrochemical oxidation using modified PbO(2) electrode as anode. The influence of several operating parameters, such as initial 4-CP concentration, applied current density, and supporting electrolyte (Na(2)SO(4)) concentration was investigated. Ultraviolet spectroscopy and total organic carbon (TOC) measurements were conducted to study the kinetics of 4-CP electrochemical reaction and the mineralization efficiency of 4-CP. The experimental results showed that the 4-CP degradation always followed a pseudo-first-order kinetics. The higher mineralization of 4-CP and the lower current efficiency (CE) were obtained by the lower initial 4-CP concentration. The applied current density showed a positive influence on the degradation of 4-CP and the removal of TOC, but a higher applied current density led to a lower CE. Although Na(2)SO(4) concentration of 0.05 M resulted in a higher 4-CP and TOC removal, the result of one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicates that Na(2)SO(4) concentration is not the significant parameter for 4-CP removal in electrochemical oxidation.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Chlorophenols / chemistry*
  • Electrolysis*
  • Lead / chemistry*
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Oxides / chemistry*
  • Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / chemistry*

Substances

  • Chlorophenols
  • Oxides
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Lead
  • 4-chlorophenol
  • lead oxide