An electrochemical process for the degradation of sulfonate- and phenol- derivatives in industrial effluents

An electrochemical method is proposed for the degradation of an industrial effluent from a chemical industry, containing sulfonate- and phenol- derivatives. A model solution simulating the composition of the waste was prepared and the degradation kinetics of each component was followed. For this purpose an ion-interaction HPLC method was developed, able to simultaneously separate phenol- and sulfonate- derivatives. The method is essentially based on the formation of ion-pairs in a mobile phase of octylamine o-phosphate at pH=8.0 The degradation process was then applied in the analysis of the waste. Both for the model solution and for the waste, the electrochemical process led to about 80% degradation.