Electrochemical degradation of malachite green using nanoporous carbon paste electrode

Malachite green is a dye which is often used in the textile industry which potentially generates hazardous compound to the environment. Electrochemical degradation is a method that can decipher malachite green into harmless compounds. In this study, nanoporous carbon paste used as the anode and silver wire as the cathode. A number of the sample solution with a certain concentration containing supporting electrolyte inserted into a electrolysis cell, certain potential and current is passed through the electrode into the solution. During the degradation process, the solution stirred by a magnetic stirrer. The results showed that the optimum state of degradation at 10 volts potential with an electrolyte solution of 0.1 M NaCl, pH does not affect the results of degradation. The optimum time to degrade 50 ppm malachite green is 30 to 40 minutes to produce a harmless compound that can be indicated from the impairment COD that up to 95,05%. Results of UV-Vis spectra showed that malachite green has been degraded completely.