Ana S. Fajardo

Treatment of a simulated phenolic effluent by heterogeneous catalytic ozonation using Pt/Al2O3

Non-catalytic and catalytic ozonation over Pt/Al2O3 were considered in the treatment of a synthetic effluent composed of six phenolic acids usually present in olive mill wastewaters. In both processes the medium pH affected the rate of ozone decomposition and the formation of hydroxyl radicals. The optimum values were achieved for the catalytic system under pH 7 with 93.0 and 47.7%, respectively, of total phenol content and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal, after 120 minutes of reaction. For pH 3, the catalytic ozonation followed a free radical pathway perceived by the presence of radical scavengers. No significant structural differences were observed between the fresh and used solid catalyst in X-ray diffraction analysis. Aluminium leaching behaviour was also evaluated at the end of each experiment. Moreover, a sequence of feed-batch trials involving the catalyst reutilization exhibited almost constant activity during the operation time. Eco-toxicological tests were performed for both processes, revealing that the treated effluent still presents some ecological impact, although it is lower than that for the raw wastewater.

Treatment of an azo dye effluent by peroxi-coagulation and its comparison to traditional electrochemical advanced processes

Peroxi-coagulation (PC) is an interesting new process that has not been widely studied in the literature. This work presents the application of this technology to treat an azo dye synthetic effluent, studying the effect of different parameters including initial pH, current density (j), initial dye concentration and supporting electrolyte. The two former variables significantly affected the colour removal of the wastewater, followed by the initial dye concentration and the kind of electrolyte, in a lesser extent. The optimum operating conditions achieved were initial pH of 3.0, j = 33.3 mA cm-2, 100 mg L-1 of methyl orange (MO) and Na2SO4 as supporting electrolyte. The performance of PC was also compared to other electrochemical advanced processes, under similar experimental conditions. Results indicate that the kinetic decay of the MO increases in the following order: electrocoagulation (EC) < electrochemical oxidation (EO) with electrogenerated H2O2 << PC < electro-Fenton (EF). This behaviour is given to the high oxidant character of the homogenous OH radicals generated by EF and PC approaches. The EO process with production of H2O2 (EO-H2O2) is limited by mass transport and the EC, as a separation method, takes longer times to achieve similar removal results. Energy requirements about 0.06 kWh gCOD-1, 0.09 kWh gCOD-1, 0.7 kWh gCOD-1 and 0.1 kWh gCOD-1 were achieved for PC, EF, EO-H2O2 and EC, respectively. Degradation intermediates were monitored and carboxylic acids were detected for PC and EF processes, being rapidly removed by the former technology. PC emerges as a promising and competitive alternative for wastewaters depollution, among other oxidative approaches.