LAUSR

Abstract This work assesses the role of the operational conditions upon the electro-activation of persulfate (electro-PS) using Ti/IrO2 Ta2O5 electrode for the decolorization of anthraquinone azo dye Disperse Blue 3 (DB3). The studied variables include current density (j) (5–80 mA cm−2), persulfate concentration based on the stoichiometric dose for complete DB3 mineralization (20–100%), temperature (30–90 °C) and pH (3–12) as well as the influence of dissolved oxygen. The persulfate activation from cathodic reduction was confirmed by linear sweep voltammetry (LSV). The increase in j enhanced the PS decomposition and, consequently, decolorization efficiency, because of the greater production of sulfate radicals (SO4•−). Besides, the combination of electro-PS with thermal activation resulted in a synergistic effect upon the DB3 mineralization. In the range 30–70 °C, electro-PS led to a significantly higher TOC conversion (above 60% at 40 mA cm−2) than sole heat-activated PS. This difference steeply decreased as temperature increases, achieving similar TOC conversion at 90 °C after 60 min.