Effect of supporting electrolyte on the photoelectrochemical degradation of dodecylbenzenesulfonate (DBS)

A surfactant sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate (DBS) was treated by photoelectrochemical degradation, which combined the ultraviolet 254 nm irradiation and external electric field. The effect of chloride, bicarbonate and nitrated ions were investigated. A significant synergetic effect was observed at 1.5 V electrode potential. The effect of both chloride and bicarbonate ions on the photoelectrochemical degradation were proved to be insignificant. Nitrate ions were capable of reducing the TOC removal efficiency at 1.5 V electrode potential while improved the DBS degradation at 4.0 V. Among the metallic ions of Fe(III), Mn(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II), only Fe(III) ions were especially capable of enhancing the photoelectrochemical degradation efficiency. HPLC analysis also proved the effective and complete decomposition of DBS by photoelectrochemical degradation.