The viability of the degradation of aqueous solutions of aniline, nitrobenzene, and 4-chlorophenol by the so-called Photoelectro-Fenton process in a pilot reactor is reported. The Electro-Fenton process stage, based on the flow of oxygen through a gas diffusion cathode to produce H2O2, allows mineralization of about a half of the TOC content in ca. 1 h, because anodic oxidation is coupled with Fenton reaction in the presence of Fe2+ catalyst. An intensity of 20 A was applied in a flow cell comprising a Ti/Pt anode and a carbon-PTFE cathode. After electrolysis, samples of the effluent were exposed to sunlight, and almost complete mineralization was reached after ca. 50 min. Effect of parameters such as electrolysis time, pH, initial concentration, and solar or UVA irradiation on the process efficiencies and the running costs are studied. The Photoelectro-Fenton process using sunlight effectively diminishes these costs. The analogous behavior of the three aromatics suggests similar degradation pathways, regardless of the different groups attached to the ring.
The feasibility of pilot‐scale mineralization of organic pollutants in wastewaters using the Electro‐Fenton® process is demonstrated. The treatment was applied in a continuous‐flow reactor, to solutions of nitrobenzene, 2,4‐D and benzoic acid and to actual wastewaters from a fine chemicals company along with a pulp and paper company. The results showed mineralization yields from 60 to 84% by simply applying the Electro‐Fenton® process. When a subsequent exposure to sunlight was carried out (Helielectro‐Fenton method), this mineralization almost went to completion, except for the effluent from the fine chemicals industry.
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