Efficient electrochemical treatment based on electrodeposited thin films of birnessite for mineralisation of AMPA (aminomethylphosphonic acid) in very soft conditions

Abstract The presence of AMPA in environment becomes today a real problem due to its persistence, its toxicity, and its multiple origins (main metabolite of glyphosate, the pesticide the most used in the world; degradation product of personal care and industrial products). This paper reports the development of a simple, effective, cheap and easy electrochemical treatment, for mineralising AMPA under very soft conditions: at room temperature, at free pH, and in a classical open electrochemical cell. The electrode material used is an electrodeposited thin film of birnessite, a non-toxic material, synthesised in very soft conditions. The original idea is to couple the spontaneous oxidative properties of birnessite to an electrochemical oxidation treatment in the aim to increase its reactivity towards this pollutant. Very good mineralisation rates and capacity (≈ 0.115 g AMPA mineralized by gramme of birnessite) were obtained with very low energy supplies (Q ≈ 3 C). Some tests performed with concentrated glyphosate solutions, one of its main parents, give also good results allowing us to envisage the development of an easy method of wastewater treatments at very low costs in complement of classical methods and/or directly at the source of pollution.