Decolorization of Synthetic and Real Wastewater by Indirect Electrochemical Oxidation Process

J. Basiri Parsa^a,*, Mahmood Abbasi^b
a Faculty of Chemistry, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamedan, 65178, Iran.
^b Colorant Manufacturing and Environmental Science Department, Institute for Colorants,
Paints and Coatings,Tehran, Iran.
E-mail: parssa@basu.ac.ir, Tel. +98 811 8282808, Fax. =98 811 8257407

Abstract
In this paper the decolorization and degradation of synthetic and real wastewater by electrochemical oxidation method were investigated. Synthetic wastewater consisting of Mordant Red 3 (MR3) was used as a model compound. Electrochemical degradation processes were performed using Pt as an anode and Stainless Steel 304 as a cathode. In the bulk solution, the strong oxidizing potential of the chemicals were produced when the wastewater was passed through the electrolytic cell the organic pollutants were oxidized to little or harmless organic molecules, carbon dioxide and water. The results indicated that the removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and color were 86% and 100% respectively. The removal of COD and color increased by increasing voltage and chloride concentration at low pH.

Keywords: Real wastewater, electrochemical oxidation, decolorization, COD, Mordant Red 3.