Bio-electrocatalytic dechlorination of 2,4-dichlorophenol. Effect of pH and operational configuration

Bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) are regarded as effective green technologies for wastewater treatment, with low associated energy costs. This work studies the influence of cathode pH and operational mode, microbial fuel cell (MFC) or electrolysis (MEC), on electrocatalytic hydrodechlorination (ECH) 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) in an abiotic cathode. When operating MFC, results showed that more acid enhances ECH reactions. Practically a total dechlorination was obtained after 72 h at pH=5, whereas only 88% pH=7. Also, further enhanced by under MEC where poised towards negative potentials higher current densities were achieved. The presented faster kinetics, reaching 81% 24 operation batch mode full 48 hours. Additionally, when MEC, phenol reaction hydrogenated to cyclohexanone these mild conditions, which would drastically reduce toxicity effluent.