Simultaneous recovery of metals and destruction of organic species: Cobaltand phthalic acid

In mixed industrial effluent, the presence of metal ions can retard the des truction of organic contaminants, and the efficiency of recovery of the met al is reduced by the presence of organic species. Results are presented for cobalt-phthalic acid in which both those effects occur. An electrochemical cell alone can be used to recover cobalt at pH 4.5 but is not capable of a chieving complete mineralization of phthalic acid by anodic oxidation. A ph otolytic cell atone can achieve the destruction of phthalic acid at an opti mum pH of 2.5 but leaves the metal ions in solution. A combined photolytic- electrochemical system using an activated carbon concentrator cathode is de scribed that achieves the rapid simultaneous pH-independent destruction of phthalic acid and recovery of cobalt.