Electro-oxidation of the dye azure B: kinetics, mechanism, and by-products

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2014;21(14):8379-86. doi: 10.1007/s11356-014-2772-4. Epub 2014 Mar 29.

Abstract

In this work, the electrochemical degradation of the dye azure B in aqueous solutions was studied by electrochemical advanced oxidation processes (EAOPs), electro-Fenton, and anodic oxidation processes, using Pt/carbon-felt and boron-doped diamond (BDD)/carbon-felt cells with H₂O₂ electrogeneration. The higher oxidation power of the electro-Fenton (EF) process using BDD anode was demonstrated. The oxidative degradation of azure B by the electrochemically generated hydroxyl radicals ((•)OH) follows a pseudo-first-order kinetics. The apparent rate constants of the oxidation of azure B by (•)OH were measured according to pseudo-first-order kinetic model. The absolute rate constant of azure B hydroxylation reaction was determined by competition kinetics method and found to be 1.19 × 10(9) M(-1) s(-1). It was found that the electrochemical degradation of the dye leads to the formation of aromatic by-products which are then oxidized to aliphatic carboxylic acids before their almost mineralization to CO₂ and inorganic ions (sulfate, nitrate, and ammonium). The evolution of the TOC removal and time course of short-chain carboxylic acids during treatment were also investigated.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Ammonium Compounds / chemistry
  • Azure Stains / chemistry*
  • Boron / chemistry
  • Carboxylic Acids / chemistry
  • Coloring Agents / chemistry*
  • Diamond / chemistry
  • Electrochemistry
  • Electrodes
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / chemistry
  • Hydroxyl Radical / chemistry
  • Kinetics
  • Nitrates / chemistry
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Platinum / chemistry
  • Sulfates / chemistry

Substances

  • Ammonium Compounds
  • Azure Stains
  • Carboxylic Acids
  • Coloring Agents
  • Nitrates
  • Sulfates
  • Hydroxyl Radical
  • Platinum
  • Diamond
  • Azure B
  • Hydrogen Peroxide
  • Boron