Premium
Electrochemical removal of dimethyl phthalate with diamond anodes
Author(s) -
de Souza Fernanda,
Sáez Cristina,
Cañizares Pablo,
de Motheo Artur,
Rodrigo Manuel
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
journal of chemical technology and biotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.64
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1097-4660
pISSN - 0268-2575
DOI - 10.1002/jctb.4118
Subject(s) - chemistry , dimethyl phthalate , electrolysis , anode , electrochemistry , phthalate , inorganic chemistry , diamond , organic chemistry , electrode , electrolyte
BACKGROUND In this work, the electrolysis of dimethyl phthalate ( DMP , a widely‐use plasticizer) with conductive‐diamond anodes is studied . RESULTS Results show that this technology is capable of depleting this pollutant in a wide range of initial concentrations. Although mass transfer limits the kinetics of the process, there is a significant contribution of mediated oxidation and the rate of the processes improve with increasing current density, while the efficiency decreases. A first stage in the oxidation of DMP consists of the attack on the methyl ester groups, and monomethyl phthalate and phthalate are the main aromatic intermediates. Further oxidation of these species results in the formation of maleic and oxalic acid, which behave as intermediates and are completely mineralized during the electrolysis. The presence of chloride in water leads to the formation of many more aromatic chlorinated intermediates from the action of hypochlorite on aromatics intermediates. Intermediates found and oxidation mechanisms proposed are consistent with those reported in the literature for other advanced oxidation processes . CONCLUSIONS DMP , TOC (total organic carbon) and COD (chemical oxygen demand) can be successfully removed using electrolysis with conductive‐diamond anodes. DMP removal is faster than that of COD and TOC indicating the formation of reaction intermediates. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry