Advanced oxidation of catechol in reverse osmosis concentrate generated in leather wastewater by Cu-graphite electrode

Abstract

Reverse osmosis (RO) concentrate generated from tannery was treated by advanced electrochemical oxidation using graphite electrodes. Catechol was selected as model organic pollutant in the RO concentrate. The influence of applied current density, catechol concentration, pH, temperature and inner electrode space of electrodes was investigated in electrochemical oxidation system. The optimized conditions were found to be current density (j), 100 mA/cm(2); electrolysis time (t (eco)), 60 min; pH, 7.0; and temperature, 25 A degrees C at an inner electrode space, 2 cm. The average mass transport coefficient for the removal of catechol as COD was found to be 3.0 x 10(-5) m/s at optimum conditions. Faradic efficiency and specific energy consumption were also calculated for the applied current density. Further, the treatment of catechol was confirmed through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Theoretical evaluation of current density suggested that the removal of catechol was controlled when supplied at above limiting applied current densities and mass transport controlled at lower of limiting current densities.