Photoassisted electrochemical recirculation system with boron-doped diamond anode and carbon nanotubes containing cathode for degradation of a model azo dye

In this research work, a photoassisted electrochemical system under recirculation mode and with UV irradiation was designed for treatment of C.I. Acid Blue 92 (AB92) as a model anionic azo dye in aqueous solution. Degradation experiments were carried out with boron-doped diamond (BDD) anode and carbon nanotubes-polytetrafluoroethylene (CNTs-PTFE) cathode in the presence of sulfate as an electrolyte. A comparative study of AB92 degradation by photolysis, electrochemical oxidation and photoassisted electrochemical processes after 45 min of treatment demonstrated that degradation efficiency was 27.89, 37.65 and 95.86%, respectively. Experimental data revealed that the degradation rate of AB92 in all of the processes obeyed pseudo-first-order kinetics and application of photoassisted electrochemical system reduced electrical energy per order (EEO), considerably. Degradation efficiency of photoassisted electrochemical process enhanced by increasing applied current and flow rate values, but vice versa trend was observed for initial dye concentration and an optimum amount of 6 was obtained for initial pH. The TOC measurement results demonstrated that 93.24% of organic substrates were mineralized after 120 min of photoassisted electrochemical process and GC–Mass analysis was performed for identification of degradation intermediates.