Electrochemical treatment of wastewater to remove contaminants from the production and disposal of plastics: a review

Abstract

Wastewater is major source of contaminants originating from the production, usage, and disposal of plastic materials. Due to their poor biodegradability of these contaminants in municipal wastewater treatment plants, additional advanced oxidation processes such as electrochemical treatments have been developed to improve the standard biological treatment. Here we review the applications of electrochemical treatments of wastewater for the removal of the following plastic contaminants: bisphenol A, phthalic acid esters, and benzotriazoles. We present the effectiveness of treatment in terms of contaminant removal and mineralization; the identification of transformation products; toxicity assessment; and process energy requirements. In the present review, we have focused on the applications of electrochemical treatments of wastewater for the removal of three important groups of contaminants originating mainly from plastics: bisphenol A, phthalic acid esters, and benzotriazoles. The review focuses on the research of electrochemical treatments for these contaminants from the last five years. The papers are assessed from the point of i) effectiveness of treatment in terms of contaminant removal and mineralization; ii) identification of transformation products; iii) toxicity assessment; iv) processes’ energy requirements. Electrochemical treatments were confirmed to be a viable option for the removal of selected contaminants from wastewater.

Selected Micropollutants Removal from Municipal Wastewater

“…The study by the authors [96] deals with the removal of wastewater contaminants related to the production, use and disposal of plastic materials. Related emerging contaminats were bisphenol A, phthalic acid esters and benzotriazoles.…”

Indigenous bio-coagulant assisted electrocoagulation process for the removal of pollutants from brewery wastewater : optimization by using Response Surface Methodology (RSM)

“…RSM is a collection of mathematical and statistical techniques for building models, evaluating the effects of several variables, and obtaining the values of process variables that produce desirable values of the response [21]. In this study, laboratory experiments were carried out using an indigenous bio coagulant assisted electrocoagulation process by varying parameters in their interval: pH (3)(4)(5)(6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11), current (0.2 -0.8A), reaction time (20 -60min), custard apple seed powder as indigenous bio coagulant (0.5 -3.5g/l) and constantly 0.75 g/l NaCl as an electrolyte to reduce power consumption. As shown in table 1 these inputs give number of experimental runs, range of pH, time, current and coagulant dosage which was generated by using RSM software.…”

“…Improper disposal of industrial waste and heavy metals can build up in lakes and rivers, posing threats to people and wildlife [4] wastewater treatment methods include advanced oxidation techniques, biological processes, Physicochemical processes, and membrane filtration and adsorption [5]. Advanced oxidation requires strong oxidants, making treatment risky and expensive [6]. Biological processes require tightly controlled conditions, lengthy retention times, and large footprints, causing unnecessary fines for nearby WWT facilities during dewatering due to strict municipal regulations [7].…”

Electrocatalytic Reforming of Polylactic Acid Plastic Hydrolysate over Dynamically Formed γ-NiOOH

“…In this context, the green degradation and upcycling of waste plastics by electrochemical oxidation has emerged as a promising solution . This approach is nonhazardous and efficient at converting waste plastics into valuable chemicals using renewable energy, while achieving environmental management, waste treatment, and resource recovery. , For example, ethylene glycol, the hydrolysis product of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), was upcycled into acetate or formate by electrocatalysis on nickel-based catalysts. − To the best of our knowledge, the electrochemical oxidation of lactate, the sole hydrolysis product of PLA, has rarely been explored.…”