An electrochemical process for the degradation of sulfonate‐ and phenol‐ derivatives in industrial effluents

Summary

An electrochemical method is proposed for the degradation of an industrial effluent from a chemical industry, containing sulfonate‐ and phenol‐ derivatives.

A model solution simulating the composition of the waste was prepared and the degradation kinetics of each component was followed. For this purpose an ion‐interaction HPLC method was developed, able to simultaneously separate phenol‐ and sulfonate‐ derivatives. The method is essentially based on the formation of ion‐pairs in a mobile phase of octylamine o‐phosphate at pH=8.0

The degradation process was then applied in the analysis of the waste. Both for the model solution and for the waste, the electrochemical process led to about 80% degradation.

Key words:

• Industrial effluent
• electrochemical degradation
• naphthalensulfonates
• phenols