Taguchi optimization for the removal of high concentrations of phenol from saline wastewater using electro-Fenton process

AbstractThe efficiency of the electro-Fenton process (EFP) was assessed for phenol removal from saline wastewater. The influence of operational parameters, such as current density (4–16 mA/cm2), pH (2–8), H2O2 concentration (75–300 mg/L), reaction time (20–100 min), salinity (1–4%), and phenol concentration (250–2,000 mg/L), on the EFP were evaluated using an L25 orthogonal array design. The best conditions for removal of phenol were determined by the Taguchi method and obtained optimum condition as H2O2 = 150 mg/L, pH 3, current density = 8 mA/cm2, reaction time = 20 min, salinity = 2%, and phenol concentration = 250 mg/L. These findings indicated that the electro-Fenton process can be used as an effective approach for removing and mineralizing phenol at high concentrations from saline wastewater.