Determination of optimum operating parameters for Acid Yellow 36 decolorization by electro-Fenton process using BDD cathode

The aim of this work was to apply an experimental response surface methodology (RSM) to optimization of the Acid Yellow 36 (Ay 36) decolorization procedure the electro-Fenton process (EFP) using boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes. RSM was used for the evaluation of different operation parameters, process modelling, optimization study, and model prediction analysis. Optimization of the electro-Fenton process for decolorization of 60 mg L-1 of synthetic azo dye solution was analyzed using a central composite design (CCD) in RSM. The response variable for the experimental design was a percentage of the color removal. The three considered factors, at two different levels, were current density (j=8 and 23 mA/cm(2)), catalytic Fe2+ concentrations (0.1 and 0.3 mmol L-1), and electrolysis time (10 and 50 min). According to RSM, the optimum operation conditions were Fe2+ = 0.24 mmol L-1, j=23 mA/cm(2), and t=48 min. The maximal decolorization efficiency of 98% was achieved under these conditions. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.