Abstract
Degradation of 4-methyl pyrimidine (4MP), a refractory toxic chemical emitted to the environment from the industrial production of pyrimidine pesticide was studied in aqueous solution. This paper presents the study of the electrochemical oxidation of 4MP in alkaline media in the presence of sodium chloride, has been investigated. The process has been followed through the dependence of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and by UV spectrophotometer. The influence of current density, supporting electrolytes (NaCl, NaOH, and Na2SO4) and temperature on the rate of COD abatement has been followed. The rate of the degradation was found to increase with increasing the current density and temperature. The best obtained conditions for COD removal on the boron-doped diamond anode (BDD) to degrade 4MP solutions (initial COD0 = 900 mg.L-1) include operating at 30 mAcm-2 and 25 °C. The high efficiency of this technology can be explained in terms of the direct electro-oxidation at the BDD surface and the oxidation carried out by hydroxyl radicals (OH.) and other electro-generated oxidants (Cl-,ClO-).