LAUSR

Abstract Degradation of azo-dye Metanil Yellow in the electrochemical Fenton process has been investigated. Different catalysts have been used: Fe2+, Co2+, Mn2+, Ni2+, and Ce3+ to compare their catalytic activity in the electro-Fenton process. A relatively simplified kinetic model based on rate-limiting step approximation has been constructed to describe the behavior of different catalysts. It consists of only the most important reactions and doesn't include the detailed mechanism of degradation of a molecule of dye. Experimental data have been used to fit the parameters of this model. Kinetic constants of the reaction of catalyst cation with hydrogen peroxide were estimated and based on its comparison of catalytic activity of different cations has been made. The kinetic constant of that reaction with Fe2+ is the same as reported in the literature previously. Our simplified model is in very good agreement with experimental data and allows us to estimate the mean value of hydroxyl radicals needed for the destruction of one molecule of pollutant dye.