Phenol removal from water by electrochemical methods

ABSTRACT PhD Thesis PHENOL REMOVAL FROM WATER BY ELECTROCHEMICAL METHODS YUSUF YAVUZ Anadolu University Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences Environmental Engineering Program Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. A. Savaş KOP ARAL 2004, 162 pages In this thesis, electrochemical removal of phenol from water was investigated in a parallel plate reactor and a plug flow reactor using ruthenium oxide, diamond and iron electrodes. Complete removal of phenol and high removal efficiency for COD were achieved in all electrochemical systems. Removal efficiency of electrocoagulation was directly proportional to the H202 added to the solution. Increase in the added H202 resulted in an increase in phenol and COD removal efficiency. Indirect electrochemical oxidation in the presence of NaCI was more efficient than the electrochemical oxidation when diamond anodes were used. Electrochemical treatment of petroleum refining wastewater was studied under optimum conditions and phenol removal of 99% has been achieved in all electrochemical systems. COD removal was also over 95% especially for diamond anodes in both direct and indirect oxidation. Boron doped diamond anodes were found effective both for phenol and COD removal. Although high removal efficiency was achieved in chemical oxidiation in the presence of H202, COD removal was more difficult. Since high removal efficiencies were obtained for the removal of phenol and COD simultaneously, electrochemical oxidation was superior to the chemical oxidation. Keywords: Electrochemical Treatment, Phenol, Ruthenium Oxide, Iron, Boron Doped Diamond 11