Investigating the Removal Ethidium Bromide from Aqueous Solutions using Activated Persulfate in Electrochemical Process

Abstract

Background & Objectives: Ethidium bromide is known as a Mutagenic substance that due to some of its characteristics including accumulative property in organism bodies, can cause major environmental problems. In this research, we studied the effect of activated persulfate by electrochemical method in removal of ethidium bromide in laboratory conditions. Materials & Methods: In this experimental study, which was conducted in a laboratory pilot, used from a discontinued reactor with one liter capacity that equipped with four electrodes of iron as a monopolar connection? Entrance voltage (Amper), initial concentration of persulfate, pH, reaction time and initial concentration of Ethidium bromide was investigated. The remaining concentrations of Ethidium bromide was determined by using spectrophotometry at a wavelength of 480 nm. Results: The results of this study showed that the initial pH, entrance voltage and the initial concentrations of persulfate have a significant effect on the removal of pollutants, also the maximum removal rate occurred in acidic pH. By increasing the concentration of persulfate and the entrance voltage, the efficiency of the process increased and by increasing the initial concentration of Ethidium bromide, the efficiency of the process decreased. So that in appropriate conditions obtained from the experiment, 93.2% of the pollutant was removed in40 minutes and 100% in 60 minutes. Also removal efficiency for COD at optimal time was 72 %. Conclusions: The results showed that by using activated persulfate in electrochemical process with iron electrodes can be an appropriate method to remove the pollutants in refineries and aqueous solutions.

Keywords

• electro/persulfate
• iron electrode
• ethidium bromide
• aqueous solution