Electrochemical degradation of linuron in aqueous solution using Pb/PbO2 and C/PbO2 electrodes

Two modified electrodes (Pb/PbO2 and C/PbO2) were prepared by electrodeposition and used as anodes for electrochemical degradation of linuron (phenylurea pesticide) in aqueous solution. Different operating conditions and factors affecting the treatment process including current density, temperature, initial concentration of linuron, pH, conductive electrolyte and time of electrolysis were studied and optimized. The best degradation occurred in the presence of NaCl (1 gL(-1)) as conductive electrolyte. After 30 min, nearly complete degradation of linuron was achieved (92% and 84%) using C/PbO2 and Pb/PO2 electrodes at pH 7 and 1.5, respectively. Higher degradation efficiency was obtained at low temperature (5-10 degrees C). The optimum current density for the degradation of linuron on both electrodes was (150 mAcm(-2)). (C) 2011 Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of King Saud University.