Review of recent developments in electrochemical advanced oxidation processes: application to remove dyes, pharmaceuticals, and pesticides

• Published in: International journal of environmental science and technology (Tehran) Vol. 19; no. 12; pp. 12611 - 12678
• Main Authors: Martínez-Sánchez, C., Robles, I., Godínez, L. A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.12.2022
• Subjects: Aquatic Pollution; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Science and Engineering; Review; Soil Science & Conservation; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Photoassisted electro-Fenton; Electrode materials; Electro-Fenton; Reactors; Electro-oxidation; Intermediates
• ISSN: 1735-1472; 1735-2630
• DOI: 10.1007/s13762-021-03762-9

The negative environmental impact by the presence of organic contaminants in industrial and domestic effluents requires the development of treatment technologies. In this work, recent advances of three important electrochemical advanced oxidation processes (EAOPs) are presented. The review focuses on recent electro-oxidation (EO), electro-Fenton (EF), and photoassisted electro-Fenton (PA-EF) studies aimed to treat effluents contaminated with dyes, pharmaceuticals, and pesticides. The fundamentals of the three EAOPs are briefly described in the first part of the corresponding section. Later, changes in degradation with increasing current and pH are presented. Then, the use of different electrode materials involved in the electrochemical generation of • OH radicals is discussed showing the superiority of BDD. Approaches such as the way in which iron is added for the EF and PA-EF processes as well as different irradiation sources for PA-EF are also examined and finally, recently reported hybrid systems, as well as novel arrangements and electrochemical reactors, are presented along with information on energy consumption and the intermediates produced during the EO, EF, and PA-EF treatments. From the literature review, the EO process proved to be more efficient for simpler chemical organic molecules, while for more complex molecules the EF and PA-EF processes seem to be more suitable.