Electrochemical Degradation of PAHs in Produced Water Using Ti/Sb₂O₅-SnO₂-IrO₂ Anode

Abstract

In the study, ternary oxides coated Ti/SnO₂-Sb₂O₅-IrO₂ anode was used for degradation of 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in a laboratory scale electrochemical batch reactor. To determine the optimum conditions for electrochemical degradation of PAHs from produced water, Box-Behnken design was used with three independent variables, viz., current density, pH and electrolysis time and response variable, viz., ΣPAHs removal %. Quadratic regression model was recommended as the best fit model. The results of Analysis of Variances (ANOVA) exhibited that the regression model adequately described the functional relationship between the independent variables and the response. This study affirmed that electrochemical degradation of PAHs followed first-order kinetics.