The effects of the presence of copper on the photooxidation of phenol and 4-chlorophenol and of the presence of the phenols on the recovery of copper by electrodeposition are studied in three systems: a photolytic cell in the presence and absence of TiO2 as a catalyst or H2O2 as an oxidant; an electrolytic cell and a combined photolytic – electrolytic system. The optimum system for the simultaneous removal of copper and destruction of the phenols which overcomes the effects of copper-phenol reactions is a combined system with concentrator electrode technology incorporated into the electrolytic cell. This combined system achieves > 99% removal of copper and destruction of phenol or 4-chlorophenol in an 8 h period.EPSRC/Environmental Technology Best Practice Programme (ETBPP) and Fluid Dynamic International Ltd. for a grant under the Link (WMR03) programme
