Hybrid advanced oxidation process (HAOP) as an effective pharmaceutical wastewater treatment

Pharmaceutical wastewater may contain bio-refractory and toxic compounds that cannot be treated by microbiology methods. In addition to low efficiency, bacteria will be collapsed and biomass wash-out will occur and be detected as TSS. Hybrid advanced oxidation process (HAOP), based on the electrochemical method, is highly potential for degradation of stable compounds. Cylinder cathode made of carbon cloth was paired with Ti/PtIr anode and inter-electrode distance of 1-3 cm. The cell was equipped with a magnetic stirrer to improve the oxidation-reduction on the surface of the electrode thus enhancing contact between pollutant and generated oxidator. Applied at electrolyte of 4000 mg/L, ferrous sulfate of 0.2 mM, and pH value of 2.5, HAOP showed an excellent performance and reached 60%, 90%, and 94% of COD reduction after 3, 6, and 9 hrs.