The pesticides from agricultural and industrial wastewater are recalcitrant to the physical and biological methods. This study aims to examine the removal of imidacloprid which is one of common pesticides (TOC0 = 100 ppm) through direct photolysis, direct and indirect electrochemical process, and photo-assisted electrochemical process. The effects of operating variables, including the dosage of chloride ions (0.05-0.5 M), initial pH (1.5-9.5), pH during reaction (1.5-9.5), current density (0-2.48 mA/cm2), temperature (20-40 oC) and UV wavelength (254, 365 nm), on the treatment of imidacloprid was investigated. The results revealed that the degradation of imidacloprid followed a first order kinetic model. Under optimal conditions, 99.4 % of TOC removal was obtained (0.2 M dosage of NaCl, pH 5.5, 1.24 mA/cm2, 40 oC, 254 nm UVC irradiation, 4 hours reaction). Eventually, the concentration of ammonia, nitrate and nitrite were lower than 1 ppm which will not cause secondary pollution after treatment.

Photo-assisted electrochemical oxidation of imidacloprid synthetic wastewater in the presence of chloride ions

254th National Meeting (2017)

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