US EPA

3453124 

Journal Article 

Removal and transformation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons during electrocoagulation treatment of an industrial wastewater 

Gong, C; Shen, G; Huang, H; He, P; Zhang, Z; Ma, B 

2017 

Yes 

Chemosphere
ISSN: 0045-6535
EISSN: 1879-1298 

Elsevier Ltd 

168 

58-64 

English 

27776239 

10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.10.044 

WOS:000391897500008 

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are an important class of water pollutants because of their known ecological and human toxicity. Electrocoagulation (EC) is a promising technology for mitigating industrial wastewater pollution, but the removal and transformation of PAHs during EC treatment has not yet been understood. Therefore, a paper-making wastewater effluent (PMWW) was employed in this study to investigate the relationship between PAHs' removal and transformation during EC treatment. The results show that 86% of PAHs were effectively removed not only by the electro-oxidation reactions, but also by adsorption onto Fe hydroxide flocs. The removal and transformation of PAHs were related to the number of rings in their structures. Some PAHs composed of two aromatic rings (e.g., naphthaline and dimethylnaphthalene) were produced from humic acid-like and fulvic acid-like organics in PMWW, while PAHs with three to four rings were degraded, thus being removed efficiently. Therefore, PAH transformation during EC treatment exerted double-sided effects on the removal of PAHs; the net effect appeared to be positive. Overall, this study revealed the existence and importance of PAH transformation during EC treatment and provided useful guidance for pulp and paper mills to improve the design and operation of wastewater treatment facilities. 

Electrochemical degradation; Electrocoagulation; Excitation-emission matrix; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Transformation; Aromatization; Coagulation; Effluent treatment; Effluents; Electrooxidation; Industrial water treatment; Iron compounds; Linear transformations; Mineral oils; Naphthalene; Organic acids; Paper and pulp mills; Wastewater treatment; Water pollution; Electro coagulations; Electro-oxidation reaction; Electrochemical degradation; Excitation emission matrices; Industrial wastewaters; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHS); Transformation; Wastewater treatment facilities; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; 1,2,4 trimethylbenzene; 1,3 dichlorobenzene; acenaphthene; anthracene; aromatic compound; ethylbenzene; ferric hydroxide; fulvic acid; hexachlorobutadiene; humic acid; industrial effluent; naphthalene; nitrobenzene; organic compound; pentadecanoic acid; phenanthrene; phthalic acid dibutyl ester; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon; industrial waste; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon; waste water; water pollutant; coagulation; degradation; electrical method; experimental design; industrial waste; oxidation; PAH; pollutant removal; transformation; wastewater treatment; adsorption; Article; degradation; fluorescence; mass fragmentography; molecular weight; oxidation; particle size; surface area; total organic carbon; waste component removal; waste water electrocoagulation; waste water management; water treatment; analysis; chemistry; electrochemical analysis; industrial waste; procedures; sewage; waste water; water pollutant; Adsorption; Aromatic Compounds; Degradation; Hydrocarbons; Adsorption; Electrochemical Techniques; Industrial Waste; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; Waste Disposal, Fluid; Waste Water; Water Pollutants, Chemical