The effective removal of recalcitrant organochlorine pesticides including hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) present in a real groundwater coming from a landfill of an old lindane (γ-HCH) factory was performed by electrochemical oxidation using a BDD anode and a carbon felt cathode. Groundwater (ΣHCHs = 0.42 mg L-1, TOC0 = 9 mg L-1, pH0 = 7, conductivity = 3.7 mS cm-1) was treated as received, achieving the complete depletion of the HCH isomers and a mineralization degree of 90% at 4 h electrolysis at constant current of 400 mA. Initial groundwater contains high chloride concentration (Cl0- = 630 mg L-1) that is progressively decreased due to its oxidation to different oxychlorine species: Cl2, HClO, ClO-, ClO2- ClO3- and ClO4- some of them (Cl2, HClO, ClO-) playing an important role in the oxidation of organic pollutants. The oxidation rate of chloride (and its oxidized intermediates) depends on the applied current value. Although some of the species generated from them are active oxidants, the presence of inorganic salts is detrimental to the efficiency of the electrochemical process when working at current densities above 100 mA due to the high consumption of hydroxyl radicals in wasting reactions. The initial organic carbon content is not crucial for the extension of the process but high organic loads are more profitable for cost effectiveness. The addition of a supporting electrolyte to the solution could be interesting since it increases the conductivity, reducing the cell potential and therefore, decreasing the energy consumption.
Keywords: BDD; Carbon felt; Electrochemical oxidation; Hexachlorocyclohexane; Hydroxyl radical; Lindane.
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