The aim of the present study was to investigate the electrochemical formation of free chlorine species (HOCl/ClO) and their subsequent use for the degradation of the pesticide atrazine. Initially, the process of electrochemical-free chlorine production was investigated using a bench-scale electrochemical flow-cell. The most significant variables (electrolyte concentration ([NaCl]) and inter-electrode gap) of the process were obtained using a 2 factorial design and the optimum process conditions (1.73 mol L and 0.56 cm) were determined by a central composite design. Following optimization of free chlorine production, three degradation techniques were investigated, individually and in combination, for atrazine degradation: electrochemical, photochemical and sonochemical. The method using the techniques in combination was denominated sono-photo-assisted electrochemical degradation. Constant current assays were performed and the sono-photo-assisted electrochemical process promoted more efficient removal of atrazine, achieving total organic carbon removal of ∼98% and removal of atrazine to levels below the detection limit (>99%) in under 30 min of treatment. Furthermore, the combination of three techniques displayed lower energy consumption, and phytotoxicity tests (Lactuca sativa) showed that there was no increase in toxicity.

The present work had as its objective, the evaluation of the combination of electrochemical, photochemical and sonrochemical techniques (sono-electrochemical photoassisted) applied to degradation of cytarabine (chemotherapeutic drug) in a simulated urine that continues with creatinine and laboratory research. The paper involved laboratory research with both a qualitative and quantitative approach. A continuous-flow filter-press electrochemical reactor was employed using Dimensionally Stable Anode (DSA® - Ti/Ru0.3Ti0.7O2) as the electrode material. A 23 factorial design was used to optimize the degradation of organic compounds contained in artificial urine (creatinine and urea) together with cytarabine, varying applied current, retention time and flow rate, the response variable was total organic carbon (TOC) removal. Additionally, UHPLC analyses demonstrated the removal of ancitabine (precursor of cytarabine), corroborating with the data obtained by the from the experimental design. The use of artificial urine as an electronic support interferes with the electrochemical process, taking TOC to high levels. However, it was observed that there was significant removal of the organic load present in the effluent solution, even when a more complex degradation matrix is used (artificial urine).

The efficiency of electrolysis (EC/Cl2) and photo-assisted electrolysis (EC/UV/Cl2) methods, in the presence of chloride, for the abatement of real dairy waste from a producer in the Triangulo Mineiro region of Brazil, was evaluated. A complete 23 factorial design was performed for the variables time, pH and current. After determining the ideal pH, a Central Compound Design (CCD) was performed, where the applied current (533.42 mA) and treatment time (60.45 minutes) were maximized. The effluent was subsequently submitted to prolonged EC/Cl2 and EC/UV/Cl2 treatment in order to evaluate the behaviour of specific environmental parameters over time. The EC/UV/Cl2 method was more efficient than simple EC/Cl2 treatment. The EC/UV/Cl2 method resulted in a reduction of all environmental parameters investigated to levels within legal standards for effluent discharge. A relatively low cost of treatment is obtained with Energy per Order (EEO) values of 0.89 and 1.22 kWh m−3 order−1 for the EC/UV/Cl2 and EC/Cl2 treatments, respectively. The electrochemical production of free chlorine species followed by subsequent photolysis and production of radical species can convert a simple electrochemical process into an advanced oxidation process (AOP).

The influence of chloride ion concentration during the photo-assisted electrochemical degradation of simulated textile effluent, using a commercial Ti/Ru0.3Ti0.7O2 anode, was evaluated. Initially, the effect of applied current and supporting electrolyte concentration on the conversion of chloride ions to form reactive chlorine species in 90 min of experiment was analyzed in order to determine the maximum production of reactive chlorine species. The optimum conditions encountered (1.5 A and 0.3 mol dm(-3) NaCl) were subsequently employed for the degradation of simulated textile effluent. The efficiency of the process was determined through the analysis of chemical oxygen demand (COD), total organic carbon (TOC), of the presence of organochlorine products and phytotoxicity. Photo-assisted electrochemical degradation was more efficient for COD and TOC removal than the electrochemical technique alone. With simultaneous UV irradiation, a reduced quantity of reactive chlorine was produced, indicating that photolysis of the chlorine species led to the formation of hydroxyl radicals. This fact turns a simple electrochemical process into an advanced oxidation process.

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The present paper presents the study of (1) the optimization of electrochemical-free chlorine production using an experimental design approach, and (2) the application of the optimum conditions obtained for the application in photo-assisted electrochemical degradation of simulated textile effluent. In the experimental design the influence of inter-electrode gap, pH, NaCl concentration and current was considered. It was observed that the four variables studied are significant for the process, with NaCl concentration and current being the most significant variables for free chlorine production. The maximum free chlorine production was obtained at a current of 2.33 A and NaCl concentrations in 0.96 mol dm. The application of the optimized conditions with simultaneous UV irradiation resulted in up to 83.1% Total Organic Carbon removal and 100% of colour removal over 180 min of electrolysis. The results indicate that a systematic (statistical) approach to the electrochemical treatment of pollutants can save time and reagents.