Effective Removal and Mineralization of 8-Hydroxyquinoline-5-sulfonic Acid through a Pressurized Electro-Fenton-like Process with Ni−Cu−Al Layered Double Hydroxide

Ni−Cu−Al layered double hydroxide (Ni−Cu−Al LDH) was proposed as an electro‐Fenton‐like catalyst for 8‐hydroxyquinoline‐5‐sulfonic acid (8‐HQS) removal in water. The properties of the prepared catalysts were characterized by using X‐ray, SEM and EDAX analyses. The effect of numerous operative parameters on the removal of 8‐HQS and total organic carbon (TOC) was studied. Very high level removal of both 8‐HQS and TOC (87 and 79 %, respectively) were obtained by using a pressurized electro‐Fenton‐like process (PrEFL‐LDH) at P=10 bars, using a Ti/IrO2‐Ta2O5 anode for 6 h. The process presented good performances in a large range of pH (3–10) and gave better removals of 8‐HQS and TOC with respect to that achieved by both i) EF catalyzed by homogeneous (FeSO4) or natural heterogeneous catalysts (pyrite and chalcopyrite) and ii) anodic oxidation at a boron doped diamond anode. Ni−Cu−Al LDH retained its catalytic activity after four cycles. Moreover, the carboxylic acid intermediates were identified and analyzed by HPLC.