Electro-Fenton, UVA Photoelectro-Fenton and Solar Photoelectro-Fenton Treatments of Organics in Waters Using a Boron-Doped Diamond Anode: A Review

The characteristics and applications of electrochemical advanced oxidation processes (EAOPs) like electro-Fenton (EF), UVA photoelectro-Fenton (PEF) and solar PEF (SPEF) with a boron-doped diamond (BDD) anode are reviewed. Their oxidative properties are based on the attack of •OH formed at the anode surface and in the medium from Fenton’s reaction between cathodically generated H2O2 and added Fe2+. The illumination with UVA light in PEF and sunlight in SPEF enhances the degradation process due to the photolysis of complexes of Fe(III) with generated carboxylic acids. Examples on the removal of industrial chemicals, pesticides, dyes and pharmaceuticals by these EAOPs using bench-scaled stirred tank reactors and pre-pilot plants are described. The influence of experimental variables on the mineralization and energetic parameters is detailed. The decay kinetics of pollutants and the evolution of intermediates are discussed. The SPEF process shows the best performance, being the most potent EAOP tested.