Publications Repository - Gdańsk University of Technology

Bisphenol A (BPA) and diclofenac (DCF) are among the most prevalent micropollutants in aquatic environments, with concentrations reaching up to several hundred μg/L. These compounds pose significant risks to biodiversity and environmental health, necessitating the development of effective removal methods. However, both BPA and DCF can be resistant to conventional treatment technologies, highlighting the need for innovative approaches. Electrochemical oxidation (EO) has emerged as a promising solution. In this study, we assessed the effectiveness of EO using borondoped diamond (BDD) anodes to remove BPA and DCF from two types of treated wastewater (TWW-W and TWW-D) and landfill leachate (LL). The evaluation included an analysis of the removal efficiency of BPA and DCF and the identification of transformation products generated during the process. Additionally, the feasibility of the EO-BDD process to remove ammonium nitrogen (N-NH4+) and organic compounds present in these environmental matrices was investigated. The EO-BDD treatment achieved remarkable removal efficiencies, reducing BPA and DCF concentrations by over 96% in LL and TWW-W. Transformation product analyses identified four intermediates formed from parent compounds during the oxidation process. Furthermore, the EO-BDD process effectively removed both chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ammonium nitrogen from LL, although weaker results were observed for TWWs. These findings underscore the potential of the EO-BDD process as an effective method for the removal of BPA and DCF from challenging matrices, such as wastewater containing micropollutants. It also shows promise as a complementary technology for enhancing current conventional wastewater treatment methods, especially biological degradation.

Authors

• dr inż. Filip Gamoń link open in new tab ,
• dr inż. Sebastian Żabczyński,
• dr inż. Małgorzata Szopińska link open in new tab ,
• dr Mattia Pierpaoli link open in new tab ,
• dr Dawid Zych,
• dr hab. inż. Robert Bogdanowicz link open in new tab ,
• dr inż. Wojciech Artichowicz link open in new tab ,
• prof. dr hab. inż. Aneta Łuczkiewicz link open in new tab ,
• dr hab. inż. Sylwia Fudala-Książek link open in new tab