Influencing factors of venlafaxine degradation at boron-doped diamond anode

Degradation of the antidepressant venlafaxine by an effective electrocatalytic process, boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrode, was study. The BDD electrode was selected as the anode, and the degradation efficiency of venlafaxine under different influencing factors was systematically investigated. The preliminary grasp of the degradation law of venlafaxine by anodic electro-degradation using BDD electrode was obtained. The experimental results showed that the electrochemical oxidation technology using BDD anode can effectively degrade venlafaxine and remove total organic carbon (TOC) from the solution, complete venlafaxine degradation and TOC elimination could be achieved within 30 and 120 min of BDD oxidation process, respectively, and it has good stability and reusability. Increasing the electrolyte concentration (≤0.1 mol/L) and current density (≤100 mA/cm²) within a certain range could accelerate the degradation of venlafaxine. HCO₃^– and PO₄^3? could inhibit the degradation efficiency of venlafaxine through of competing for free radicals. It is interesting that the presence of Cl^? significantly promoted the degradation efficiency of venlafaxine. The results of this study suggest that the Electro-degradation treatment may provide a promising way to treat venlafaxine contaminated water.