Enhancement of the electro-activated persulfate process in dye removal using graphene oxide nanoparticle

This study aimed to improve the speed of the electrochemical process by graphene oxide nanoparticle as a current accelerator in Acid Blue 25 removal from aqueous solutions. To do so, the effect of different parameters including pH, dye concentration, sodium persulfate concentration, the ratio of sodium persulfate to iron (II) sulfate concentration, current density, and the distance between electrodes was investigated on dye removal. Under optimal conditions of pH = 5, dye concentration = 200 mg/L, sodium persulfate concentration = 500 mg/L, iron (II) sulfate concentration = 100 mg/L, current density = 16.67 mA/cm(2), and electrode distance = 2 cm, 95% of dye was removed after 60 minutes in the electro-activated persulfate process; while the modified electro-activated persulfate process achieved 95% dye removal after only 40 minutes under the same conditions. This system was able to remove 90% of dye after 60 minutes at a higher concentration (300 mg/L). Also, the modified electro-activated persulfate process obtained the removal of 80% of COD, and 54% of TOC after 180 minutes in the mentioned conditions, for the dye concentration of 300 mg/L.

Automated summary

The study demonstrated that using graphene oxide nanoparticles as a current accelerator can effectively enhance the speed of Acid Blue 25 removal from aqueous solutions using persulfate oxidation, especially achieving removal rates of over 95% under certain conditions.