Role of electrode materials for the anodic oxidation of a real landfill leachate--comparison between Ti-Ru-Sn ternary oxide, PbO(2) and boron-doped diamond anode

Abstract

In this paper the electrocatalytic properties of Ti-Ru-Sn ternary oxide (TiRuSnO(2)), PbO(2) and boron-doped diamond (BDD) anodes have been compared for the electrochemical oxidation of a real landfill leachate from an old municipal solid waste landfill (average values of COD 780 mg dm(-3) and NH(4)(+)-N266 mg dm(-3)). The experiments have been performed using an undivided flow cell equipped with a stainless steel cathode, under constant current of 2 A and flow-rate of 420 dm(3) h(-1). The performance of the electrodes has been compared measuring the time evolution of aromatic compounds, COD, ammonium, colour removal, current efficiency and energy consumption. The experimental results indicated that after 8 h of electrolyses TiRuSnO(2) anode yields only 35% COD, 52% colour and 65% ammonium removal. Using PbO(2) ammonium and colour were completely removed but a residual COD (i.e. 115 mg dm(-3)) was present. On the contrary BDD enables complete COD, colour and ammonium removal due to the electrogeneration of hydroxyl radicals from water discharge and active chlorine from chloride ions oxidation. BDD also exhibits greater current efficiency along with a significantly lower energy cost than other electrodes. These results indicated that the electrochemical oxidation with BDD anode is an effective process for the treatment of landfill leachate.