Simultaneous application of copper and PbO2 anodes for electrochemical treatment of olive oil mill wastewater

Olive oil mill wastewater (OOMW) is a complex effluent that must be treated before discharge into the environment. In this study, a combination of various mechanisms was conducted in an electrochemical cell. Copper and PbO2 anodes were used, while hydrogen peroxide was electro-generated at an activated carbon fiber cathode. Fenton-like reaction and electrooxidation occurred during electrolysis for organic compounds degradation in OOMW. The effects of pH, dilution of OOMW, and electrical current on COD and phenol removals were investigated. The results showed that 78.5% phenol and 60% COD removals were obtained at optimum conditions of 300mA electrical current, 150min electrolysis, and pH 3-3.5 (regulated). The regulation of pH during electrolysis significantly developed the treatment efficiency of electrochemical process. Phenol and COD removal kinetics were likely to follow second-order model and first-order model, respectively. Simultaneous application of two anodes had synergic effect on removal efficiency of electrochemical process. Biodegradability (BOD5/COD) was dramatically improved from 0.18 to 0.468 after electrochemical oxidation. It was concluded that the two mechanisms of production of active oxygen and chlorine had synergic effect on electrochemical degradation.