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The capacity of the electro-coagulation (EC) process for the treatment of the wastewater containing Cr3+, resulting from a leather tannery industry placed in Medellin (Colombia), was evaluated. In order to assess the effect of some parameters, such as: the electrode type (Al and/or Fe), the distance between electrodes, the current density, the stirring velocity, and the initial Cr3+ concentration on its efficiency of removal (%RCr+3), a multifactorial experimental design was used. The %RCr3+ was defined as the response variable for the statistical analysis. In order to optimise the operational values for the chosen parameters, the response surface method (RSM) was applied. Additionally, the Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD5), the Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), and the Total Organic Carbon (TOC) were monitored during the EC process. The electrodes made of aluminium appeared to be the most effective in the chromium removal from the wastewater under study. At pH equal to 4.52 and at 28°C, the optimal conditions of Cr3+ removal using the EC process were found, as follows: the initial Cr3+ concentration=3,596 mg/L, the electrode gap=0.5 cm, the stirring velocity=382.3 rpm, and the current density=57.87 mA/cm². At those conditions, it was possible to reach 99.76% of Cr3+removal, and 64% and 61% of mineralisation (TOC) and COD removal, respectively. A kinetic analysis was performed in order to verify the response capacity of the EC process at optimised parameter values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalytic degradation of phenol under both UV radiation and visible light, using TiO 2 (Degussa P-25) and TiO 2 loaded with some transition metal ions (Co, Cu, Fe and Mo) was examined. From the series of metal loaded catalysts, Mo/TiO 2 was the most efficient one. In the presence of Mo, neither TiO 2 anatase/rutile fraction nor its pore size diameter has been affected. However, Mo made its surface more acidic. The percentage of phenol degradation reached under visible light was significantly lower than that under UV radiation due to the lower degree of light absorption by the catalyst surface. From the series of studied catalysts, 2 wt% Mo/TiO 2 was the most efficient one. The synergetic effect between S BET , mean pore size diameter, catalyst agglomerate size, band gap, ZPC and the type of Mo x O y species on TiO 2 surface, depending on Mo loading, created its photocatalytic performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]