Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Removal of acetaminophen from hospital wastewater using electro-Fenton process

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The current work deals with efficient removal of acetaminophen (AC) from hospital wastewater using electro-Fenton (EF) process. The degradation yield of 99.5% was obtained under optimal experimental conditions, namely 5.75 mg L−1 initial AC concentration, 2.75 pH solution, 3-cm inter-electrode distance, 100 mg L−1 KCl electrolyte, 122.5 µL L−1 H2O2, 8 mA cm−2 current density at equilibrium time of 8 min. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) suggested that the effect of mentioned operating parameters was statistically significant on the AC removal. The low probability amount of P value (P < 0.0001), the Fisher’s F-value of 65.91, and correlation coefficient of the model (R2 = 0.9545) revealed a satisfactory correlation between the experimental and the predicted values of AC removal. The predicted removal efficiency of 99.4% was in satisfactory agreement with the obtained experimental removal efficiency of 98.7%. The AC degradation during the EF followed a first-order kinetic model with rate constants (Kapp) of 0.6718 min−1. Using the ordinary radical scavengers revealed that main mechanism of AC degradation controlled by the hydroxyl free radicals produced throughout the EF process. The excess amount of iron (II) scavenged the active radicals and diminished the concentration of ·OH available to react with AC. The optimum molar ratio of H2O2 to Fe2+ was found to be 2.5. The developed EF process as a promising technique applied for treatment of real samples.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abdessalem AK, Bellakhal N, Oturan N, Dachraoui M, Oturan MA (2010) Treatment of a mixture of three pesticides by photo-and electro-Fenton processes. Desalination 250:450–455

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Abdullah N, Fulazzaky MA, Yong EL, Yuzir A, Sallis P (2016) Assessing the treatment of acetaminophen-contaminated brewery wastewater by an anaerobic packed-bed reactor. J Environ Manag 168:273–279

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ahmadzadeh S, Kassim A, Rezayi M, Abdollahi Y, Hossein G (2011a) A conductometric study of complexation reaction between meso-octamethylcalix [4] pyrrole with titanium cation in acetonitrile-ethanol binary mixtures. Int J Electrochem Sci 6:4749–4759

    Google Scholar 

  • Ahmadzadeh S, Kassim A, Rezayi M, Rounaghi GH (2011b) Thermodynamic study of the complexation of p-Isopropylcalix [6] arene with Cs + cation in dimethylsulfoxide-acetonitrile binary media. Molecules 16:8130–8142

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ahmadzadeh S, Rezayi M, Faghih-Mirzaei E, Yoosefian M, Kassim A (2015a) Highly selective detection of titanium (III) in Industrial waste water samples using meso-octamethylcalix [4] pyrrole-doped PVC membrane ion-selective electrode. Electrochim Acta 178:580–589

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ahmadzadeh S, Rezayi M, Karimi-Maleh H, Alias Y (2015b) Conductometric measurements of complexation study between 4-Isopropylcalix [4] arene and Cr 3 + cation in THF-DMSO binary solvents. Measurement 70:214–224

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ahmadzadeh S, Rezayi M, Kassim A, Aghasi M (2015c) Cesium selective polymeric membrane sensor based on p-isopropylcalix [6] arene and its application in environmental samples RSC. Advances 5:39209–39217

    Google Scholar 

  • Ahmadzadeh S, Asadipour A, Pournamdari M, Behnam B, Rahimi HR, Dolatabadi M (2017) Removal of ciprofloxacin from hospital wastewater using electrocoagulation technique by aluminum electrode: optimization and modelling through response surface methodology. Process Saf Environ Prot 109:538–547. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2017.04.026

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Babuponnusami A, Muthukumar K (2012) Advanced oxidation of phenol: a comparison between Fenton, electro-Fenton, sono-electro-Fenton and photo-electro-Fenton processes. Chem Eng J 183:1–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bedner M, MacCrehan WA (2006) Transformation of acetaminophen by chlorination produces the toxicants 1, 4-benzoquinone and N-acetyl-p-benzoquinone imine. Environ Sci Technol 40:516–522

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Camacho-Muñoz D, Martín J, Santos JL, Aparicio I, Alonso E (2009) An affordable method for the simultaneous determination of the most studied pharmaceutical compounds as wastewater and surface water pollutants. J Sep Sci 32:3064–3073

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coimbra R, Escapa C, Paniagua S, Otero M (2016) Adsorptive removal of diclofenac from ultrapure and wastewater: a comparative assessment on the performance of a polymeric resin and activated carbons. Desalin Water Treat 57:27914–27923

    Google Scholar 

  • de Luna MDG, Veciana ML, Su C-C, Lu M-C (2012) Acetaminophen degradation by electro-Fenton and photoelectro-Fenton using a double cathode electrochemical cell. J Hazard Mater 217:200–207

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Doltabadi M, Alidadi H, Davoudi M (2016) Comparative study of cationic and anionic dye removal from aqueous solutions using sawdust-based adsorbent. Environ Prog Sustain Energy 35:1078–1090

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Estrada AL, Li Y-Y, Wang A (2012) Biodegradability enhancement of wastewater containing cefalexin by means of the electro-Fenton oxidation process. J Hazard Mater 227:41–48

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Farré M, Kantiani L, Petrovic M, Pérez S, Barceló D (2012) Achievements and future trends in the analysis of emerging organic contaminants in environmental samples by mass spectrometry and bioanalytical techniques. J Chromatogr A 1259:86–99

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fouladgar M, Ahmadzadeh S (2016) Application of a nanostructured sensor based on NiO nanoparticles modified carbon paste electrode for determination of methyldopa in the presence of folic acid. Appl Surf Sci 379:150–155

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fulazzaky MA, Majidnia Z, Idris A (2017) Mass transfer kinetics of Cd (II) ions adsorption by titania polyvinylalcohol-alginate beads from aqueous solution. Chem Eng J 308:700–709

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ganesan P, Kamaraj R, Vasudevan S (2013) Application of isotherm, kinetic and thermodynamic models for the adsorption of nitrate ions on graphene from aqueous solution. J Taiwan Inst Chem Eng 44:808–814

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Groeschke M, Kumar P, Winkler A, Grützmacher G, Schneider M (2016) The role of agricultural activity for ammonium contamination at a riverbank filtration site in central Delhi (India). Environ Earth Sci 75:129

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guivarch E, Trevin S, Lahitte C, Oturan MA (2003) Degradation of azo dyes in water by electro-Fenton process. Environ Chem Lett 1:38–44

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jung C, Oh J, Yoon Y (2015) Removal of acetaminophen and naproxen by combined coagulation and adsorption using biochar: influence of combined sewer overflow components. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22:10058–10069

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kamaraj R, Vasudevan S (2016) Facile one-pot synthesis of nano-zinc hydroxide by electro-dissolution of zinc as a sacrificial anode and the application for adsorption of Th4+, U4+, and Ce4 + from aqueous solution. Res Chem Intermed 42:4077–4095

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kamaraj R, Pandiarajan A, Jayakiruba S, Naushad M, Vasudevan S (2016) Kinetics, thermodynamics and isotherm modeling for removal of nitrate from liquids by facile one-pot electrosynthesized nano zinc hydroxide. J Mol Liq 215:204–211

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kassim A et al (2011) A Novel ion selective polymeric membrane sensor for determining thallium (I) with high selectivity. In: IOP conference series: materials science and engineering. IOP Publishing, p 012010

  • Khandegar V, Saroha AK (2013) Electrocoagulation for the treatment of textile industry effluent—a review. J Environ Manag 128:949–963

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klamerth N, Malato S, Agüera A, Fernández-Alba A (2013) Photo-Fenton and modified photo-Fenton at neutral pH for the treatment of emerging contaminants in wastewater treatment plant effluents: a comparison. Water Res 47:833–840

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moussavi G, Aghanejad M (2014) The performance of electrochemical peroxidation process for COD reduction and biodegradability improvement of the wastewater from a paper recycling plant. Sep Purif Technol 132:182–186

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moussavi G, Bagheri A, Khavanin A (2012) The investigation of degradation and mineralization of high concentrations of formaldehyde in an electro-Fenton process combined with the biodegradation. J Hazard Mater 237:147–152

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nidheesh P, Gandhimathi R (2012) Trends in electro-Fenton process for water and wastewater treatment: an overview. Desalination 299:1–15

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Panizza M, Oturan MA (2011) Degradation of Alizarin Red by electro-Fenton process using a graphite-felt cathode. Electrochim Acta 56:7084–7087

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pardakhty A, Ahmadzadeh S, Avazpour S, Gupta VK (2016) Highly sensitive and efficient voltammetric determination of ascorbic acid in food and pharmaceutical samples from aqueous solutions based on nanostructure carbon paste electrode as a sensor. J Mol Liq 216:387–391

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rezayi M, Karazhian R, Abdollahi Y, Narimani L, Sany SBT, Ahmadzadeh S, Alias Y (2014) Titanium (III) cation selective electrode based on synthesized tris (2pyridyl) methylamine ionophore and its application in water samples. Sci Rep 4:0000–0025

    Google Scholar 

  • Rounaghi G, Mohajeri M, Ahmadzadeh S, Tarahomi S (2009) A thermodynamic study of interaction of Na + cation with benzo-15-crown-5 in binary mixed non-aqueous solvents. J Incl Phenom Macrocycl Chem 63:365–372

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sirés I, Arias C, Cabot PL, Centellas F, Rodríguez RM, Garrido JA, Brillas E (2004) Paracetamol mineralization by advanced electrochemical oxidation processes for wastewater treatment. Environ Chem 1:26–28

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Soltani H, Pardakhty A, Ahmadzadeh S (2016) Determination of hydroquinone in food and pharmaceutical samples using a voltammetric based sensor employing NiO nanoparticle and ionic liquids. J Mol Liq 219:63–67

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Su C-C, Chang A-T, Bellotindos LM, Lu M-C (2012) Degradation of acetaminophen by Fenton and electro-Fenton processes in aerator reactor Separation and purification technology 99:8–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Venkatkarthick R, Kiruthika GVM, Davidson DJ, Ravichandran S, Sozhan G, Vasudevan S (2016) New insight into understand the enhanced photoconductivity properties of Ti (O2) plate spurted with Al2O3 for water oxidation. Chem Select 1:5037–5041

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang N, Zheng T, Zhang G, Wang P (2016) A review on Fenton-like processes for organic wastewater treatment Journal of Environmental. Chem Eng 4:762–787

    Google Scholar 

  • Yahya MS, Oturan N, El Kacemi K, El Karbane M, Aravindakumar C, Oturan MA (2014) Oxidative degradation study on antimicrobial agent ciprofloxacin by electro-fenton process: kinetics and oxidation products. Chemosphere 117:447–454

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yoosefian M, Ahmadzadeh S, Aghasi M, Dolatabadi M (2017) Optimization of electrocoagulation process for efficient removal of ciprofloxacin antibiotic using iron electrode; kinetic and isotherm studies of adsorption. J Mol Liq 225:544–553. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molliq.2016.11.093

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao X, Zhang B, Liu H, Chen F, Li A, Qu J (2012) Transformation characteristics of refractory pollutants in plugboard wastewater by an optimal electrocoagulation and electro-Fenton process. Chemosphere 87:631–636

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors express their appreciation to Neuroscience Research Center and Pharmaceutics Research Center both affiliated to Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran, for supporting the current work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Neuroscience Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

    Saeid Ahmadzadeh

  2. Pharmaceutics Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran

    Saeid Ahmadzadeh

  3. Environmental Science and Technology Research Center, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

    Maryam Dolatabadi

Authors
  1. Saeid Ahmadzadeh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Maryam Dolatabadi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Saeid Ahmadzadeh.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ahmadzadeh, S., Dolatabadi, M. Removal of acetaminophen from hospital wastewater using electro-Fenton process. Environ Earth Sci 77, 53 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-017-7203-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-017-7203-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation