ORGANIC WASTE DESTRUCTION BY INDIRECT ELECTROOXIDATION

The destruction of organic model substances by indirect electrooxidati on was investigated. The oxidation agent Co(III) was used because of t he high redox potential of the Co(III)/Co(II) redox couple (E(0) = 1.8 08 V). Experiments were performed in a batch and in a continuous elect rolytic cell by using various model substances (especially phenol and different chlorophenols). Intermediate and final products of the oxida tion were identified and quantified. Organic carbon is ultimately tran sformed to CO2 and to small amounts of CO. The residual carbon in the process solution was determined by TOC measurement to be about 20 ppm. Organic chlorine is oxidized via chlorate to perchlorate. The remaini ng amount of adsorbable organic halogens (AOX) was less than 3 ppm. Ba sed on these results, a pilot plant was constructed and is presently i n operation.