Degradation of dipyrone by electrogenerated H2O2 combined with Fe2+ using a modified gas difufusion electrode

The aim of the present study was to investigate the electrochemical degradation of dipyrone in a single compartment electrochemical cell equipped with a gas diffusion electrode (GDE) modified with cobalt (II) phthalocyanine. Degradations were performed under conditions of anodic oxidation (GDE pressurized with N2) and under conditions promoting the electrogeneration of H2O2 (GDE pressurized with O2) both in the absence and presence of 1 mmol FeSO4.7H2O (electro-Fenton conditions). The efficiency of the electro-Fenton process was satisfactory at all studied potentials, and achieved a maximum reduction of 67% in electrolyte absorbance at 262 nm after 90 min electrolysis at −0.7 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). The reduction in dipyrone concentration attained 95% after 90 min of reaction with electrogenerated H2O2 in the absence or presence of Fe2+ ions at all potentials except −0.5 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). The removal of total organic carbon (TOC) was most efficient under electro-Fenton conditions with a decrease of 54.4% in organic load attained at -0.9 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) and energy consumption (EC) of 270 kWh per kg of TOC removed. © 2014 The Electrochemical Society. [DOI: 10.1149/2.0091414jes] All rights reserved.