Electrochemical Treatment of Wastewater Containing Mixed Reactive Dyes Using Carbon Nanotube Modified Cathode Electrodes

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Ass. Prof., Islamic Azad University, Miyaneh Branch, Miyaneh

Abstract

Nowadays, advanced electrochemical oxidation processes are promising methods for the treatment of wastewaters containing organic dyes. One of these methods is the Electro-Fenton (EF) technique in which an electrical current is applied to the cathode and anode electrodes to promote electrochemical reactions that generate hydroxyl radicals which mineralize organic pollutants and remove them from wastewater. To carry out the Electro-Fenton process iIn this work, the carbon paper (CP) electrode was initially modified with carbon nanotubes (CNT) to produce the CP-CNT electrode which was used as the cathode to remove a mixture of organic dyestuff (containing Reactive Blue 69, Reactive Red 195, and Reactive Yellow 84) from wastewaters. Comparison of the two types of cathode electrodes (i.e., CNT and the modified CP-CNT) showed that the CP-CNT outperformed the CP electrode. The EF process was employed to treat 500 ml of a mixture of dyes (50 mg/L of each dye) containing sodium soulfate and Fe+3 ions. The results revealed that the highest color removal efficiency was achieved when a current of 300 mA was applied for 210 min. COD measurments were used to calculate the effective current and power consumption. It was found that the 300 mA current applied over a period of 210 min yielded the highest effective current and the lowest power consumption. The amount of dyes mineralized by the EF process in the dye solution indicated that 78% of the initial COD had been removed under the above conditions. It may be concluded that the Electro-Fenton process can be successfully used for the treatment of wastewaters containing mixtures of dye pollutants. Cathode electrode type, electrical current, and electrolysis duration were identified as the parameters affecting the process.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

1. Brillas, E., Sires, I., and Oturan, M.A. (2009). “Electro-fenton process and related electrochemical technologies based on fenton's reaction chemistry.” Chemical Reviews, 109, 6570-6631.
2. Jafarzadeh, N., Khataee, A.R., Khosravi, M., and Sohrabi, M.R. (2012). “Comparative study of dye solution treatment by electro-fenton process using carbon paper and carbon paper modified with carbon nanotubes as cathode.” Fresenius Environmental Bulletin, 21(12b), 4022-4029.
3. Malakootian, M., Mansoorian, H., Moosavi, S., and Daneshpazhoh, M. (2013). “Performance evaluation of fenton process to remove chromium, COD and turbidity from electroplating industry wastewater.” J. Water and Wastewater, Vol. 24, No.2 (86), 2-10. (In Persian)
4. Iglesias, O., Gomez, J., Pazos, M., and Sanroman, M.A. (2014), “Electro-fenton oxidation of imidacloprid by Fe alginate gel beads.” Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 144, 416-424.
5. Malakootian, M., Asadi, M., and Mahvi, A.H. (2013). “Evalution of electro-fenton process performance for COD and Reactive Blue 19 removal from aqueous solution.” Iranian Journal of Health and Environment, 6(4), 434-443.
6. Jafarzadeh, N., Zarei, M., Behjati, B., and Khataee, A.R. (2013). “Optimization of the oxalate catalyzed photoelectro- fenton process under visible light for removal of reactive red 195 using a carbon paper cathode.” Research on Chemical Intermediates, 39, 3355-3369.
7. Martinez, C.A., and Brillas, E. (2009). “Decontamination of wastewaters containing synthetic organic dyes by electrochemical methods: A general review.” Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 87, 105-145.
8. Tsantaki, E., Velegraki, T.H., Katsaounis, A., and Mantzavinos, D. (2012). “Anodic oxidation of textile dyehouse effluents on boron-doped diamond electrode.” J. of Hazardous Materials, 208, 91-96.
9. Brillas, E., Calpe, J.C., and Casado, J. (2000). “Mineralization of 2,4-D by advanced electrochemical oxidation processes.” Water Reserch, 34, 2253-2262.
10. Panizza, M., and Oturan, M.A. (2011). “Degradation of alizarin red by electro-fenton process using a graphite-felt cathode.” Electrochimica Acta, 56, 7084-7087.
11. Wang, C-Ta., Hua, J-L., Chou, W-L., and Kuo, Y-M. (2008). “Removal of color from real dyeing wastewater by electro-fenton technology using a three-dimensional graphite cathode.” J. of Hazardous Materials, 152, 601-606.
12. Wang, A., Li, Y-Y., and Estrada, A.L. (2011). “Mineralization of antibiotic sulfamethoxazole by photoelectro-fenton treatment using activated carbon fiber cathode and under UV-A irradiation.” Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 102, 378-386.
13. Moreira, F.C., Garcia-Segura, S., Vilar, V.J., Boaventura, A.R., and Brillas, E. (2013). “Decolorization and mineralization of Sunset Yellow FCF azo dye by anodic oxidation, electro-fenton, UVA photoelectro-fenton and solar photoelectro-fenton processes.” Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 142(143), 877-890.
14. Khabazi, N., and Rowshanzamir, S. (2014). “Modeling of electrochemical treatment of phenol and prediction of specific energy consumption.” Water and Wastewater, Vol. 24, No. 4(88), 49-58.
15. WEF. (2005). Standard method for examination of water and wastewater, 23th Ed., American Public Health Association Publication, Washington, D.C.
Journal of Water and Wastewater; Ab va Fazilab ( in persian )
Volume 27, Issue 5 - Serial Number 105
serial number: 105
November 2016
Pages 46-52

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics