Industrial wastewater treated by galvanic, galvanic Fenton, and hydrogen peroxide systems

Fluorescence and IR spectroscopy analyses of raw and treated wastewater samples were performed with the aim of establishing the anthropic origin of the dissolved organic matter. Fluorescence spectroscopy showed that GF treatment eliminated the anthropogenic organic matter associated with aromatic groups and proteins, enhanced effluent biodegradability, did not increase toxicity, and reduced the sub-lethal effects observed for lettuce radicles. Most importantly, the removal efficiencies of GF treatment were comparable with those of analogous electrochemical advanced oxidation processes based on Fenton reactions.