Study of phenol degradation pathway during electromediated mineralization

A new process of electromediated oxidative degradation of phenol and its main intermediate – hydroquinone has been studied. The oxidizers complex has been generated by passing direct current through sulfuric acid solutions containing phenols. To qualitative and quantitative analysis of reaction intermediates a gas chromatography and UV spectroscopy have been used. These analyses have shown total mineralization of toxic products of phenol and hydroquinone and the decay rate constants have maximum values at current density 0.6 A/cm. Moreover, the values of pseudo first-order rate constants are comparable to rate constants for non-thermal plasma treatment. According to UVspectroscopy, the main intermediate of phenol oxidation is p-benzoquinone, which has not been identified by GC/MS. In any case, the both phenol and hydroquinone have been successively degraded to carbon dioxide and water at these conditions.