Estudio de la degradación electroquímica del nonilfenol etoxilato proveniente de la industria farmacéutica utilizando una celda Diacell® con electrodos de diamante dopados con boro (BDD)

Abstract

500 ppm of nonyphenol ethoxilate (NPEO) degradation was carried out in this research, by means of advanced electrochemical oxidation using a DiaCell® cell, equipped with boron doped diamond electrode. The DiaCell® was fit together to a recirculation system with a peristaltic pump, which allowed the electrolyte flow control. The bugger medium for degradation was NH4OH 0.1M / 0.1M HCl. The effect of applied current density (j = 20 mA cm-2, j = 30 mA cm-2, j = 40 mA cm-2) was studied and cell efficiency for each j applied; also, the cell potential was monitored to determine operating costs. Additionally, the best conditions for achieving greater NPEO mineralization (90% removal) in less time (8 hours) is to apply 40 mA cm-2 and a flow rate of 12.6 L min-1 was found. The operating cost is $ 0.69 US dollars. This system is proposed as an alternative for disinfection of water with high content of surfactants from industry.