2-cholorophenol removal from aqueous solutions using electro/persulfate process

2-chlorophenol is one of the aromatic organic compounds found in large amounts in oil and petrochemical waste waters and chemical methods such as advanced oxidation, etc are used for removal there. Among various AOPs the method derived from sulfate radicals (SO4● -) and per sulfate (S2O82-) activating with heat, UV radiation and transition metals (such as iron ions) is of interest. The aim of the study was to eliminate 2-cholorophenol from aqueous solutions by electro/per sulfate process. This lab scale experimental study was conducted using an electrochemical batch reactor equipped with 2-iron electrodes connected to a power source. Different values of main parameters including pH, voltage, initial 2-chlorophenol concentration and persulfate concentration were investigated in present study. Samples total numbers were 234. After collecting data, results were analyzed using SPSS and Excel soft wares. The results showed that solution pH, initial concentration of persulfate and voltage had significant effects on the removal. Maximum removal was obtained in acidic conditions at pH of 3. Furthermore, removal efficiency increased with increasing the concentrations of 2-chlorophenol, persulfate and voltage. Thus the electro/ persulfate process was able to remove 99.94% of 2-chlorophenol. The use of persulfate ions in electrochemical reactors equipped with iron electrode had high efficiency of 2-chlorophenol removal. Therefore, electro/persulfate process with iron electrodes (EPS) can be considered as a convenient option for industrial wastewater treatment plants.