DEGRADATION OF DIURON VIA ELECTROCHEMICAL ADVANCED OXIDATION PROCESS

Abstract

Diuron is one of common herbicides used in Thailand. Due to its persistence and its potent toxicity, diuron contamination becomes a very serious environmental problem. This research focuses on degradation of diuron via electrochemical advanced oxidation process (EAOP), in which reactive hydroxyl radicals are produced when electrical current is supplied to electrodes immersed in the solution. The influence of mixing speed, type of electrolyte, applied electric current, initial pH, type of electrode, and temperature were investigated. The results showed that up to 95% of diuron could be degraded within 6 hours of the reaction. The reaction generally follows the pseudo-first-order kinetic. The diuron degradation increased with increasing applied electric current, also increasing temperature, or decreasing pH of the solution. Moreover, type of anion affects the diuron degradation.