Pilot-scale degradation of organic contaminants in a continuous-flow reactor by the Helielectro-Fenton method

The feasibility of pilot-scale mineralization of organic pollutants in wastewaters using the Electro-Fenton (R) process is demonstrated. The treatment was applied in a continuous-flow reactor, to solutions of nitrobenzene, 2,4-D and benzoic acid and to actual wastewaters from a fine chemicals company along with a pulp and paper company. The results showed mineralization yields from 60 to 84% by simply applying the Electro-Fenton (R) process. When a subsequent exposure to sunlight was carried out (Helielectro-Fenton method), this mineralization almost went to completion, except for the effluent from the fine chemicals industry.