Case study on the bioeffluent of petrochemical wastewater by electro-Fenton method

The electro-Fenton method, in which ferrous ion is produced at the anode and used as a catalyst of H2O2, was applied for treating the bioeffluent of petrochemical manufacturing wastewater. The major pollutant in the bioeffluent was identified as hexamine, which was nonbiodegradable and contributed 65% of COD. The goal of this study was to treat the biotreatment effluent with more than 50% of COD removal efficiency. Oxidants that involved ozone, ozone/H2O2, sodium hypochlorite, and Fenton's reagent were employed to treat this effluent by jar tests. However, none could meet the goal in the range of operating conditions used. On the other hand, more than 80% of COD was removed with the electro-Fenton process. These screening rests indicated that only the electro-Fenton process was compatible with the goal. (C) 1999 IAWQ Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.