ELECTROCHEMICAL TREATMENT OF PHENOLIC WASTE-WATER - EFFICIENCY, DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS AND ECONOMIC-EVALUATION

Anodic oxidation of phenol at a graphite electrode has shown good trea tment efficiency. The removal efficiency was a function of the current applied, with around 70% phenol removal efficiency at a current of 2. 2 A. After about 5 months of operation, there was no sign of deteriora tion of the graphite bed. An empirical relationship was developed rela ting phenol removal efficiency to the current. The relationship showed excellent prediction of the experimental data. Furthermore, a methodo logy for calculating the cell capacity was developed. The relation bet ween the cell capacity and phenol residual concentration was modelled using a non linear model. Preliminary design procedure for the electro chemical cell was illustrated and the designs results for nine differe nt wastewater conditions were tabulated. Economic evaluation of the pr ocess under different scenarios was presented and compared with other processes.