Abstract

Purpose The 2, 4, 6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) is the major explosive extensively applied in demolition of structure, military activity, and mining industry. This research was investigating the degradation rate of TNT in aqueous solution using electrochemical combined with persulfate anions. Methods In this study, the effect of seven independent variables including pH, reaction time, current density, type (NaCl, Na2SO4, NaNO3) and concentration of salts, initial concentration of TNT, scavenger type, and persulfate concentration were studied on TNT removal. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was applied to measure TNT concentration. Results The findings indicated that the optimum conditions for TNT reduction were pH = 5, time = 45 min, current density = 1.75 mA/cm(2), initial concentration of TNT = 25 mg/l, persulfate concentration = 0.3 mg/l, and Na2SO4 concentration = 1.75 mg/l which the removal rate of TNT was found to be 88.0 +/- 4.4. Conclusion According to the findings, electrocoagulation procedure is suggested as an applicable method in TNT reduction from aqueous solution.