Complete Destruction of p-Nitrophenol in Aqueous Medium by Electro-Fenton Method

An indirect electrochemical method, which is very efficient for the degradation of organic pollutants in water, is described. The method, named electro-Fenton, is based on electrocatalytical generation of Fenton's reagent to produce hydroxyl radicals, which are very active toward organic compou...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental science & technology 2000-08, Vol.34 (16), p.3474-3479
Main Authors: Oturan, Mehmet A, Peiroten, Jose, Chartrin, Pascal, Acher, Aurel J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
Chemistry
Electrochemistry
Exact sciences and technology
General and physical chemistry
General purification processes
Kinetics and mechanism of reactions
Oxidation
p-nitrophenol
Pollutants
Pollution
Wastewaters
Water
Water treatment
Water treatment and pollution
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Summary:An indirect electrochemical method, which is very efficient for the degradation of organic pollutants in water, is described. The method, named electro-Fenton, is based on electrocatalytical generation of Fenton's reagent to produce hydroxyl radicals, which are very active toward organic compounds. An industrial pollutant, p-nitrophenol (PNP), was chosen for this study and was eventually mineralized. The major intermediary degradation products such as hydroquinone, benzoquinone, 4-nitrocatechol, 1,2,4-trihydroxybenzene and 3,4,5-trihydroxy- nitrobenzene were unequivocally identified by HPLC and GC-MS methods. The rate constants of the hydroxylation reactions were determined. The mineralization of the initial pollutant and the intermediates formed during electro-Fenton treatment was followed by total organic carbon (TOC) analyses. Dependence of mineralization on the amount of electrical energy consumed is shown by the relative decrease of TOC values. A mineralization reaction mechanism is proposed.
ISSN:0013-936X
1520-5851
DOI:10.1021/es990901b