Combined Electro-Fenton and Anodic Oxidation Processes at a Sub-Stoichiometric Titanium Oxide (Ti4O7) Ceramic Electrode for the Degradation of Tetracycline in Water

The mineralization of tetracycline by electrochemical advanced oxidation processes (EAOPs) as well as the study of the toxicity of its intermediates and degradation products are presented. Electro-Fenton (EF), anodic oxidation (AO), and electro-Fenton coupled with anodic oxidation (EF/AO) were used to degrade tetracycline on carbon felt (cathode) and a sub-stoichiometric titanium oxide (Ti4O7) layer deposited on Ti (anode). As compared to EF and AO, the coupled EF/AO system resulted in the highest pollutant removal efficiencies: total organic carbon removal was 69 ± 1% and 68 ± 1%, at 20 ppm and 50 ppm of initial concentration of tetracycline, respectively. The effect of electrolysis current on removal efficiency, mineralization current efficiency, energy consumption, and solution toxicity of tetracycline mineralization were investigated for 20 ppm and 50 ppm tetracycline. The EF/AO process using a Ti4O7 anode and CF cathode provides low energy and high removal efficiency of tetracycline caused by the production of hydroxyl radicals both at the surface of the non-active Ti4O7 electrode and in solution by the electro-Fenton process at the cathodic carbon felt. Complete removal of tetracycline was observed from HPLC data after 30 min at optimized conditions of 120 mA and 210 mA for 20 ppm and 50 ppm tetracycline concentrations. Degradation products were elucidated, and the toxicity of the products were measured with luminescence using Microtox® bacteria toxicity test.