The influences of electrolysis time, anodic area, current density and supporting electrolyte on phenol and its byproducts degradation on a Ti/RuO2 anode were investigated. It was observed that phenol and its byproducts were rapidly broken down in the presence of chloride ions. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) data have shown that the presence of chloride ions lead to chlorophenols formation, due to reactions with Cl2 and/or OCl¯ generated during electrolysis. However, these intermediate products were also degraded later by the oxidizing agents. The standards established by the CONAMA (Brazilian National Council for the Environment) for phenols and chlorophenols in effluents were achieved after 360 min of electrolysis with a current density of 10 mA cm-2. Cyclic voltammograms obtained with the anodes before and after 436 h of electrolysis under severe salinity conditions (2 mol L-1) and current density (800 mA cm-2) showed that Ti/RuO2 did not lose its electrocatalytic properties. This fact indicates that Ti/RuO2 can be used for the treatment of effluents containing phenols in a chloride environment
electrooxidation; phenols; chlorophenols; supporting electrolyte
