Decoloration of Orange G (OG) using electrochemical reduction

Abstract

The electrocatalytic hydrogenation of Orange G is investigated using spectrophotometric experiments in laboratory cells. The working electrode consists of a thin grid coated with a layer of nickel in which fine particles of Raney nickel are dispersed. The optimal conditions of decoloration are as follows: basic pH, 0.05 g/L of dye concentration and 0.05 A of current density. Under these conditions, the OG decoloration efficiency reached 100% after only 1800 s of reaction. The observed values of the maximum absorbance in the spectra of the reaction mixture fitted well the polynomials of the fifth degree with respect to reaction time. The initial degradation rate of the dye is obtained easily as the differential coefficient of the functions at initial time. The degradation rate of the dye in the initial stage of the reaction is given by the first-order rate equation. The instantaneous current efficiency was calculated and the results indicated that cathodic reduction was the main contributor to the decoloration of OG. Direct cathodic reduction of azo dyes allows decolorization of intensively coloured textile wastewater without addition of chemicals or formation of sludge. The technique is of particular interest for the treatment of concentrated dye baths. The effect of current density, dye concentration, and concentration and nature of the supporting electrolyte on the reduction of the Orange G are reported.

Keywords:

• electrocatalytic hydrogenation
• Raney nickel
• decoloration
• reduction