Combined process for 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid treatment—Coupling of an electrochemical system with a biological treatment

A coupled process was studied for the removal of a chlorinated pesticide: 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). A home-made electrochemical flow cell was used for the pre-treatment and a biological treatment was then carried out using activated sludge supplied by a local wastewater treatment plant. 2,4-D was used as a target compound for the study. Several parameters were monitored during the biological treatment, like dissolved organic carbon (DOC), the target compound and the major by-product. Pretreatment led to a quick decrease of DOC during the biological process, since a 66% mineralization yield was measured after the second day, and 79% after the seventh day of culture. After two days of treatment, HPLC results revealed a total degradation of Chlorohydroquinone, the major by-product. The electrochemical pretreatment shortened the length of the biological treatment, since DOC measurements showed that in the case of non-pretreated 2,4-D, no mineralization was observed before day 7. These promising results should be subsequently confirmed on commercial 2,4-D-containing solutions and then on real effluents.

► An electrochemical pre-treatment based on a home-made flow-cell was implemented.
► An aerobic biological treatment was then carried out using activated sludge.
► Pretreatment led to a quick decrease of DOC during the biological process.
► The electrochemical pretreatment shortened the length of the biological treatment.