Electrochemical degradation of carbaryl on oxide electrodes

This paper presents the study of a prospective electrochemical treatment system for the pesticide carbaryl. Three different dimensionally stable anodes were employed (Ti/Ru0.3Ti0.7O2, Ti/Ru0.3Sn0.7O2 and Ti/Ir0.3Ti0.7O2) and the effect of current density (10, 20, 40 and 60 mA cm−2) and supporting electrolyte (0.1 mol L−1 NaCl and 0.033 mol L−1 H2SO4) is discussed. All the electrodes present a low level of carbaryl and total organic carbon removal in H2SO4, even at highly positive potentials, indicating that the application of current is not, in itself, sufficient to promote effective oxidation of the pesticide and its products. However, in the presence of NaCl all the electrodes used present rapid diminishing of the carbaryl and total organic carbon content, thus suggesting enhanced activity. The results demonstrate the participation of partially oxidised Cl− species at the electrode surface, which act as an intermediate in the electron transfer between the pesticide molecule and the electrode. Thus, under such conditions, the feasibility of the electrochemical route for the treatment (total or partial) of waste that contains carbaryl is evident.