Electrochemical advanced oxidation of cosmetics waste water using IrO2/Ti-modified electrode

Hazardous chemicals of households or industrial drainage of cosmetics materials may be discharged into effluents of water causing high threat to human health. So, unconventional methods are necessary to be applied to remove or even reduce hazardous contaminants concentration. Advanced oxidation process is successfully applied for removal of refractory organic materials. In this study, IrO2/Ti-modified electrode was prepared and used as anode into an electrolytic cell to increase the oxidation power of the harmful organic materials. It was designed and roughened to have a high surface area for amelioration of electric potential and high efficiency of organic materials degradation. Graphite rod was used as cathode and DC current was applied between both electrodes through the solution of cosmetics wastewater. Ferrous ions were added for the generation of a very powerful oxidizing agent hydroxyl radical () in the solution. Effect of ferrous ions concentrations, sodium chloride concentrations, and pH values were studied and COD was measured to evaluate the optimum conditions of removal efficiency. The results revealed that the addition of 1 g/l Fe2+ ions improved the removal efficiency to 98% at pH 3.