Issue 2, 2004

Catalytic effect of Fe2+, Cu2+ and UVA light on the electrochemical degradation of nitrobenzene using an oxygen-diffusion cathode

Abstract

The electrochemical treatment of 100 mg L−1 nitrobenzene solutions in 0.05 M Na2SO4 in the pH range 2.0–4.0 at 25 °C has been comparatively studied in the presence of Fe2+, Cu2+ and/or UVA light as catalysts using an undivided cell with a Pt anode and an O2-diffusion cathode able to electrogenerate H2O2. A quite slow degradation is found for the solution with 1 mM Cu2+ due to the low production of oxidizing hydroxyl radical (OH˙) from anodic oxidation of water and the action of the Cu2+/Cu+ system. Electro-Fenton treatment with 1 mM Fe2+ leads to a high concentration of OH˙ in the medium from Fenton's reaction, but less than 70% of the nitrobenzene is mineralized since stable complexes of Fe3+ with products are formed. These complexes are quickly photodecomposed in the photoelectro-Fenton treatment of the same solution under UVA irradiation, leading to overall depollution at low currents. Complete degradation is also feasible using 1 mM Cu2+ and 1 mM Fe2+ at high current because OH˙ can slowly destroy the complexes between Cu2+ and intermediates. The positive synergetic effect of all catalysts allows the quickest nitrobenzene mineralization using 1 mM Cu2+ and 1 mM Fe2+ under UVA irradiation. The nitrobenzene decay always follows a pseudo-first-order reaction. Aromatic products such as o-nitrophenol, m-nitrophenol, p-nitrophenol and 4-nitrocatechol have been followed by reverse-phase chromatography. Nitrate ions are formed from oxidation of nitroaromatic products. Generated carboxylic acids such as maleic, fumaric and oxalic have been detected by ion-exclusion chromatography. The different evolution of complexes of oxalic with Cu2+ and Fe3+ explains the influence of the catalysts on nitrobenzene degradation.

Graphical abstract: Catalytic effect of Fe2+, Cu2+ and UVA light on the electrochemical degradation of nitrobenzene using an oxygen-diffusion cathode

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
07 Oct 2003
Accepted
31 Oct 2003
First published
16 Jan 2004

New J. Chem., 2004,28, 314-322

Catalytic effect of Fe2+, Cu2+ and UVA light on the electrochemical degradation of nitrobenzene using an oxygen-diffusion cathode

E. Brillas, M. A. Baños, S. Camps, C. Arias, P. Cabot, J. A. Garrido and R. M. Rodríguez, New J. Chem., 2004, 28, 314 DOI: 10.1039/B312445B

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements