Application of electrochemical/BDD process for the treatment wastewater effluents containing pharmaceutical compounds

The degradation of solutions with paracetamol and diclofenac has been studied by electro-oxidation (EOx), in a reactor with a boron-doped diamond (BDD) anode and a stainless steel cathode. Different current densities were applying: 1.56 to 6.25 mA/cm2. Close to 50% of mineralization is always achieved due to the great concentration of •OH generated at the BDD surface under EOx, with release of NH4+ and NO3− ions. Same solutions have been comparatively treated with electro-Fenton (EF/BDD) process, improved the mineralization reached 80% of efficiency. Reversed-phase chromatography was carrying out to identify some by products that evolve under de degradation process.