Anodic oxidation as green alternative for removing diethyl phtalate from wastewater using Pb/PbO2 and Ti/SnO2 anode

The electrochemical oxidation (EO) of diethyl phthalate (DEP) in aqueous solution was studied at Pb/PbO2 and Ti/SnO2 anode materials under galvanostatic-experimental conditions. Results obtained clearly demonstrated that the anode plays a significant role for the optimization of the oxidation process, deciding the mechanisms and byproducts formed. DEP and by-products of oxidation were also analyzed during various stages of the electrolysis reaction by HPLC and GC/MS techniques. Before the analysis by GC/MS technique, the samples were treated by solid phase microextraction (SPME) in order to concentrate the compounds from the reaction solution and identify all electrolysis intermediates. Current efficiencies (instantaneous current efficiency; ICE and total current efficiency; TCE) achieved during EO experiments were dependent on anode used and current density (20–40mAcm2) at 408C. The results obtained demonstrated that the environmental electrochemical methods can be a feasible alternative for the wastewater treatment containing hazardous phthalates