Emerging contaminants removal from effluents with complex matrices by electrooxidation

Abstract

The electrooxidation of methiocarb and bisphenol A was studied in complex matrices, namely, simulated and real sanitary landfill leachate samples, using a boron-doped diamond anode. With simulated sanitary landfill leachate samples, the influence of the type and ratio of carbon source (glucose/humic acid) and electrolyte (NaCl or Na₂SO₄) on the emerging contaminants removal was assessed. Using real sanitary landfill leachate, the influence of current density was evaluated. The experimental results showed that electrooxidation, using a boron-doped diamond anode, can be successfully utilized to degrade methiocarb and bisphenol A when present in complex matrices, such as sanitary landfill leachate, and that methiocarb is more easily oxidized than bisphenol A. Furthermore, it was found that the presence of chloride and high humic acid content increases emerging contaminants removal rate, showing that electrooxidation at boron-doped diamond is particularly adequate to solve the problems raised by sanitary landfill leachate, even when contaminated with emerging contaminants.

Keywords: Bisphenol A; Boron-doped diamond anode; Electrochemical oxidation; Methiocarb; Sanitary landfill leachate.