Electrochemical oxidation of model compounds and olive mill wastewater over DSA electrodes: 1. The case of Ti/IrO2 anode

The electrochemical oxidation of olive mill wastewater (OMW) and model compounds over a Ti/IrO2 anode was studied by means of cyclic voltammetry and bulk electrolysis. Experiments were conducted at 1300 mg/L initial COD, 0-1.23 V vs SHE and 1.4-1.54 V vs SHE potential windows, 50 mA/cm2 current density, 0-25 mM NaCl, 60-80 °C temperature and acidic conditions. The reactivity of model compounds decreases in the order phenol ≈ p-coumaric acid > cinnamic acid > caffeic acid. Partial and total oxidation reactions occur with the overall rate following zero-order kinetics with respect to COD and increasing with temperature. Oxidation of OMW at 43 Ah/L, 80 °C and in the presence of 5 mM NaCl leads to complete color and phenols removal, elimination of ecotoxicity but moderate (30%) COD reduction. Similar performance can be achieved at 6 Ah/L in the presence of 15 mM NaCl. In the absence of salt, the respective color and phenols removal (at 6 Ah/L) is less than 10%. Excessive salinity (25 mM), although does not change color, phenols and COD removal, has an adverse effect on ecotoxicity.