Electrochemical removal of bisphenol A based on the anodic polymerization using a column type carbon fiber electrode

Electrochemical removal based on the polymerization of organic pollutants on an anode surface was performed on bisphenol A (BPA) and its derivatives, bisphenol S (BPS) and diphenolic acid (DPA). It was confirmed by voltammetric techniques that the electrochemical oxidation of these compounds leads to the formation of a polymeric film on a carbon electrode surface. The electrochemical removals of BPA, BPS and DPA based on the anodic polymerization were attempted in the batch type cell. A carbon fiber (CF) was used as an anode with a very large surface area. The high removal efficiency for BPA, BPS, and DPA was obtained by applying a potential at 0.75-, 1.0-, and 0.8-V, respectively. The removal efficiency for BPA does not decrease in the presence of 10 ppm humic acid. The electropolymerized BPA film formed on the CF surface was characterized by FT-IR and UV/vis. The continuous treatment of BPA was achieved by using the flow system with a column type of CF electrode. The applicability of this method for removal of BPA from aqueous solution was tested at several different conditions, i.e., flow rate of solution and concentration of electrolyte and BPA. This system can be applied for removal of a low concentration BPA even from low electrolyte concentrations of aqueous solution. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.