Degradation of azo dye Acid Red 14 in aqueous solution by electrokinetic and electrooxidation process

A new wastewater treatment technology––electrokinetic–electrooxidation process (EK–EO process) is developed in this paper. The EK–EO process can take advantage of both electrooxidation on the anode surface and the electrokinetic process of anionic impurities under an electric field, which can enhance the TOC removal in electrolysis process. The degradation of an anionic azo dye Acid Red 14 (AR14) was experimentally investigated. It was found that under an electric field AR14 could be migrated into anode compartment and be efficiently mineralized. After 360 min electrolysis of 100 mg l−1 AR14 solutions at 4.5 mA cm−2, complete discoloration was observed in both cathode and anode compartment. About 60% TOC was electromigrated from cathode compartment to anode compartment, and more than 25 mg l−1 TOC was abated in anode compartment. A possible degradation mechanism of AR14 by EK–EO process was proposed. Additionally, the effect of current density, recycling flux, and electrolyte concentration on the EK–EO degradation of AR14 was also investigated.