Simultaneous removal of chromium and leather dye from simulated tannery effluent by photoelectrochemistry

The feasibility of the photobleaching of a leather acid dye, acid red 151, simultaneously to degradation of anionic surfactant, Tamol®, and reduction of Cr(VI) to the less toxic Cr(III) was investigated by photoelectrocatalytic oxidation. The best experimental conditions were found to be pH 2.0 and 0.1 mol L−1 sodium sulfate when the nanoporous Ti/TiO2 photo anode was biased at +1.0 V and submitted to UV-irradiation. The photoelectrocatalytic oxidation promotes 100% discoloration, reducing around 98-100% of Cr(VI) and achieving an abatement of 95% of the original total organic carbon. The effect of pH, the applied potential, the Cr(VI) concentration and the complexation reaction between Cr(VI) and acid red dye were evaluated as to their effect on the kinetics of the reaction.