Abstract
BACKGROUND: The combination of electrochemical oxidation using a Ti/RuO~2~IrO~2~ anode with hydrogen peroxide has been used for the degradation of Crystal Violet. The effect of major parameters such as initial pH, hydrogen peroxide concentration, current density, electrolyte concentration and hydroxyl radical scavenger on the decolorisation was investigated.
RESULTS: The decolorisation rate increased with initial pH and hydrogen peroxide concentration, but decreased with electrolyte and radical scavenger concentration. The decolorisation rate increased with current density, but the increase became insignificant after current density exceeded 47.6 mA cm^−2^. On the other hand, hydrogen peroxide decomposition rate increased with initial pH and current density, but decreased with electrolyte and radical scavenger concentration. The amount of hydrogen peroxide decomposed during 30 min reaction increased linearly with hydrogen peroxide dosage. The main intermediates were separated and identified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) technique and a plausible degradation pathway of Crystal Violet was proposed. At neutral pH, the electrochemical process in the presence of hydrogen peroxide was more efficient than that in the presence of Fenton's reagent (electro‐Fenton process).
CONCLUSION: The anodic oxidation process could decolorise Crystal Violet effectively when hydrogen peroxide was present. Almost complete decolorisation was achieved after 30 min reaction under the conditions 2.43 mmol L^−1^ hydrogen peroxide, 47.6 mA cm^−2^ current density and pH~0~ 7, while 62% COD removal efficiency was obtained when the reaction time was prolonged to 90 min. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry