Degradation of Alizarin Red by electro-Fenton process using a graphite-felt cathode

The removal of the anthraquinone dye Alizarin Red S (AR) has been investigated by electro-Fenton process using a commercial graphite-felt to electrogenerate in situ hydrogen peroxide and regenerate ferrous ions as catalyst. The effect of operating conditions such as applied current, catalyst concentration, and initial dye content on AR degradation has been studied. AR decay kinetic, the evolution of its oxidation intermediates and the mineralization of the aqueous solutions were monitored during the electrolysis by UV–Vis analysis and TOC measurements. The experimental results showed that AR was completely removed by the reaction with OH radicals generated from electrochemically assisted Fenton's reaction, and the decay kinetic always follows a pseudo-first-order reaction. Applying a current of 300 mA and with catalyst concentration of 0.2 mM Fe²⁺, 95% of the initial TOC was removed in 210 min of electrolysis, meaning the almost complete mineralization of the organic content of the treated solution.