REMOVAL OF AZO DYES FROM TEXTILE INDUSTRY WASTEWATER USING ELECTROOXIDATION AND ELECTRO-FENTON PROCESSES

Abstract

Wastewaters from the textile industry have a high content of organic matter, high coloration, various minerals and metals, and often toxic and carcinogenic substances. Azo dyes are the most common used dyes in the textile industry. Due to their complex structure, the removal of azo dyes from wastewater is challenging. In this study, electrooxidation and the electro-Fenton process, as one of the most effective Electrochemical Advanced Oxidation Processes (EAOPs) for the removal of organic pollutants in wastewater, were used for the treatment of synthetic wastewater containing “Bemacid Red” dye as a pollutant. Several process parameters affecting the efficiency of OH. formation and dye degradation were examined. Stainless steel (SS) was used as the cathode material, and the anodes used were mixed metal oxides (MMO) - Ru mixed oxide (titanium substrate coated with 6g Ru/m2) and Ru-Ir mixed oxide (titanium substrate coated with 6g Ru- Ir/m2). The results showed that the Ru:SS electrode pair is more efficient comapred to the Ru-Ir:SS pair, and that the electro-Fenton process is more efficient compared to electrooxidation.