Electrooxidation of diclofenac in synthetic pharmaceutical wastewater using an electrochemical reactor equipped with a boron doped diamond electrode

Abstract

This paper deals with the degradation of diclofenac by electrochemical oxidation in NaClO4 medium at neutral pH using a FM01-LC reactor equipped with a boron doped diamond electrode (BDD). Microelectrolysis studies were carried out to find the current density domain where hydroxyl radical (•OH) formation is favored, 10 ≤ j ≤ 20 mA cm−2. Electrolysis experiments at mean linear flow velocities of 14.6 ≤ u ≤ 58.4 cm s−1 were performed. The experimental set-up achieved 100% diclofenac mineralization with 78% current efficiency and energy consumption of 2.54 kWh m−3 at j = 15 mA cm−2 and u=29.2 cm s−1.