The development and validation of a HPLC method to follow the degradation of phenol by electrochemical or photoelectrochemical treatment are described. This method, which allows determining amounts of phenol, p-benzoquinone and cathecol in electrolyzed or photoelectrolyzed solutions, was used for analysis of reaction intermediates during electrooxidation or photoelectrooxidation of phenol using a Ti-Pt/PbO2 (obtained by thermal-electrochemical or electrodeposition methods) or Ti/TiO2 doped with Ga3+ (obtained by thermal decomposition of precursor salts) electrode.
wastewater treatment; HPLC method; phenol degradation; PbO2 electrodes; Ti/TiO2 photoelectrodes
