Development of diamond composite electrode for anodic oxidation of organic pollutants

Nano-diamond composite electrode was prepared and used as anode for anodic oxidation process for organic chemicals. Electrochemical techniques such as impedance and cyclic voltammetry have been used to characterize the diamond composite electrode properties. The oxidation power of the electrode was 0.8 V vs. Ag/AgCl, the charge transfer rate was 12.1 ohm, and the double layer capacitance was less than 1 μF. The anodic oxidation behavior of p-benzoquinone, 2-chlorophenol, and phenol over diamond composite electrode were investigated by cyclic voltammetry in 0.1 M H2SO4 (pH 3) solution and 0.25 M Na2SO4 (pH 6.8) solution. Results marked that the electro-oxidation of p-benzoquinone was more active than phenol and 2-chlorophenol in the both solutions. The performance of the diamond composite electrode during incineration of 200 mg/L p-benzoquinone, 2-chlorophenol, phenol were investigated in an aqueous solution of pH 3 and pH 6.8 with 0.25 M Na2SO4 as the supporting electrolyte and applied current density of 40 mA/cm2. Results showed that the degradation rate of benzoquinone was faster than 2-chlorophenol and phenol in both different pH solutions. Moreover, the benzoquinone degradation rate was enhanced at high pH solution, on the contrary of that of 2-chlorophenol and phenol were clearly favored in acid medium.