Electrochemical oxidation of chlorophenols

Electrochemical 2-chlorophenol and 2,6-dichlorophenol removal from aqueous solutions using porous carbon felt anodes was investigated. Operating variables including current input, ratio between electrode and solution volumes, and initial pollutant concentration were considered in order to determine their influence on the faradic efficiency of the process. The byproducts of the oxidation reaction were identified, and their concentration was determined during the electrolysis. The experimental results showed that a satisfactory detoxification, consisting of removal of cyclic chlorinated compounds, could be accomplished by means of this electrochemical method with a faradic efficiency of 30% under optimized conditions. A mathematical model based on the reaction between chlorophenols adsorbed on the carbon fibers of the electrode and hydroxyl radicals produced by anodic oxidation of water has been proposed in order to interpret the experimental behavior of the system under different operating conditions.