Open AccessOptimization of the photoelectrocatalytic oxidation of landfill leachate using copper and nitrate co-doped TiO2 (Ti) by response surface methodology
Author(s) -
Xiao Zhou,
Shaoqi Zhou,
Xinbin Feng
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0171234
Subject(s) - leachate , chemical oxygen demand , response surface methodology , pollutant , environmental chemistry , total organic carbon , chemistry , copper , degradation (telecommunications) , environmental engineering , environmental science , wastewater , chromatography , organic chemistry , telecommunications , computer science
In this paper, a statistically-based experimental design with response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to examine the effects of functional conditions on the photoelectrocatalytic oxidation of landfill leachate using a Cu/N co-doped TiO 2 (Ti) electrode. The experimental design method was applied to response surface modeling and the optimization of the operational parameters of the photoelectro-catalytic degradation of landfill leachate using TiO 2 as a photo-anode. The variables considered were the initial chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentration, pH and the potential bias. Two dependent parameters were either directly measured or calculated as responses: chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal and total organic carbon (TOC) removal. The results of this investigation reveal that the optimum conditions are an initial pH of 10.0, 4377.98mgL -1 initial COD concentration and 25.0 V of potential bias. The model predictions and the test data were in satisfactory agreement. COD and TOC removals of 67% and 82.5%, respectively, were demonstrated. Under the optimal conditions, GC/MS showed 73 organic micro-pollutants in the raw landfill leachate which included hydrocarbons, aromatic compounds and esters. After the landfill leachate treatment processes, 38 organic micro-pollutants disappeared completely in the photoelectrocatalytic process.