Removing Sodium Dodecyl Benzene Sulfonate Using a Hybrid Electrocoagulation/Flotation and Photocatalytic System

This study was conducted to evaluate sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate removal using electrocoagulation/flotation and photocatalytic nano-TiO2 slurry systems. The parameters which are effective on the surfactant removal were investigated and optimized. Electrocoagulation/flotation system included meshed and mono-polar stainless steel electrodes which installed horizontally. According to the results, after 60 minutes in pH of 8, electrodes distance of 1 cm, initial SDBS concentration of 750 mg/L, SDBS and COD removal rates were achieved to 93.54 and 90%, respectively. In photocatalytic system, during 48 h, SDBS and COD removed 98.7 and 95%, respectively, while pH was around 8, initial concentration of SDBS was 300 mg/L and nano-TiO2 particles concentration was 0.5 mg/L. In the hybrid system, after 12 minutes, SDBS concentration reached to 329 mg/L which entered to the photocatalytic system that resulted in SDBS and COD removal efficiency of 99 and 96.27%, respectively. Compared to the single systems, by using the hybrid system, the removal efficiencies were improved.