ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Pretreatment of sulfonic acid wastewater through iron-carbon micro-electrolysis: investigation on process optimization and mechanism analysis

Qiaoling Xian, Youqiang Liu, Jian Zhou, Xuemin Zhang, and Yan Kong

School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou, China

 

E-mail: zhoujian@lzjtu.edu.cn

Received: 13 October 2025  Accepted: 22 January 2026

Abstract:

λ Fe–C micro-electrolysis was optimized to treat high-strength sulfonic acid wastewater.

λ Fe–C micro-electrolysis was optimized for high-strength sulfonic acid wastewater.

λ UV–Vis and FTIR identified methylsulfonic and alkylbenzenesulfonic acids.

λ The degradation of sulfonic acid wastewater followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R² = 0.996).

λ Sulfonic acid wastewater degradation followed pseudo-second-order kinetics.

λ Economic assessment confirmed feasibility at a cost of 5.0 USD/m³.

Keywords: Sulfonic acid wastewater; Ferric-carbon micro-electrolysis; Response surface methodology; Kinetics

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-026-04697-6

 

Chemical Papers 80 (4) 4341–4363 (2026)

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