New operational mode of an electrochemical reactor and its application to the degradation of levofloxacin

Author(s)

Rocha, Robson S. ^[1] ; Valim, Ricardo B. ^[2] ; Trevelin, Leandro C. ^[2] ; Silva, Fernando L. ^[2] ; Steter, Juliana R. ^[2] ; Zaiat, Marcelo ^[3] ; Lanza, Marcos R. V. ^{[2, 4]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Escola Engn Lorena, Estr Municipal Campinho Sn, BR-12602810 Lorena, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Quim Sao Carlos, Av Trabalhador Sao Carlense 400, BR-13560970 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Escola Engn Sao Carlos, Av Trabalhador Sao Carlense 400, BR-13560970 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[4] UNESP, Inst Nacl Tecnol Alternat Deteccao, Avaliacao Toxicol & Remocao Micropoluentes & Radi, Inst Quim, Caixa Postal 355, BR-14800900 Araraquara, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING; v. 5, n. 5, p. 4441-4446, OCT 2017.
• Web of Science Citations: 5

Abstract

The flow-by electrochemical reactor is generally used in batch mode with extended process time in order to achieve high efficiency in the removal of organic contaminant from aqueous solution. Moreover, the batch mode system is inappropriate for the treatment of wastewater in high volume or as a continuous stream. This paper presents a new operational mode for the electrochemical reactor in which the electrolyte passes over the electrodes just once at a reduced flow rate and with high hydraulic retention time. The concentration of hydrogen peroxide generated in the reactor running in the single-pass flow mode attained 10.2 mg L-1 cm(-2) in acid medium, a value similar to that obtained previously with the same type of reactor operating in batch mode. In the single-pass mode, the electrochemical reactor showed high rates of removal of the antibiotic levofloxacin (initial 50 mg L-1) and organic load (initial 130 mg L-1) up to 99 and 86%, respectively, when operated under electro-or photo-Fenton degradation conditions (acid medium with Fe2+ ions; absence or presence of UV irradiation). Degradation of levofloxacin generated high levels of nitrate (up to 4.5 mg L-1) and various by `products that could be identified by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/16690-6 - Study of the degradation of the antibiotics amoxicillin and ampicillin using gas diffusion electrodes modified with quinones (2-tert-butyl-9 ,10-anthraquinone and 2-ethyl-9,10-anthraquinone)
• Grantee: Fernando Lindo Silva
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 14/50945-4 - INCT 2014: National Institute for Alternative Technologies of Detection, Toxicological Evaluation and Removal of Micropollutants and Radioactivies
• Grantee: Maria Valnice Boldrin
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 13/02762-5 - Development of technologies to prevent pollution: degradation and monitoring online of antibiotics in sewage
• Grantee: Robson da Silva Rocha
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants
• FAPESP's process: 14/11486-4 - Production and evaluation of nanostructured binary metal oxides for the electrosynthesis of Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2)
• Grantee: Leandro Cesar Trevelin
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 16/01937-4 - Synthesis of binary metal oxides (Nb, Zr, Ta, Ru, Mo and Co) supported on amorphous carbon for the production of gas diffusion electrodes (GDE) for the electrosynthesis of H2O2 in situ in flow reactors.
• Grantee: Marcos Roberto de Vasconcelos Lanza
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants