Evaluation of flurbiprofen removal from aqueous solution by electrosynthesized ferrate(VI) ion and electrocoagulation process

The removal of flurbiprofen (FLU) by electrosynthesized ferrate(VI) ion and electrocoagulation (EC) process was investigated. The degradation of FLU by ferrate(VI) was affected by pH, applied ferrate(VI) dose and initial drug concentration. Complete removal of FLU was achieved at pH 4 and applied ferrate(VI) dose was 1/1 in volume ratio for its initial concentration of 1 mg/L. Removal decreased with increasing pH. Increasing the ferrate(VI) dose increased the efficiency, but there was no significant difference between 3/1 and 1/1 (v/v) ferrate(VI) doses for FLU removal. The effect of current density and pH for the removal of FLU by EC process were investigated. The optimum conditions were current density of 2.5 mA/cm2 and the solution pH of 6.5. Basic condition (pH 9) showed poor removal efficiency by EC process. Equilibrium concentration was reached within 20 min. TOC removal trends were also investigated for both process. While oxidation was the main mechanism for the removal of FLU by ferrate(VI), charge neutralization was the main removal mechanism by EC process.