Comparative study of electrochemical degradation of rhodamine B using glassy carbon, stainless steel, and nickel electrodes

Rhodamine B is a synthetic dye commonly used in the textile and printing industries, recognized as a significant water pollutant. It enters aquatic environments primarily through untreated wastewater, posing serious threats to both environmental ecosystems and human health due to its toxic, carcinogenic, and non-biodegradable properties. The dye's persistence in water can result in harmful effects on ecosystems and contamination of vital water sources, underscoring the urgent need for effective removal methods. Electrochemical degradation has emerged as an eco-friendly technology to tackle this issue, breaking down Rhodamine B into less harmful byproducts and providing a sustainable approach for mitigating its environmental impacts. This study investigates the electrochemical degradation of Rhodamine B using glassy carbon (GC), stainless steel (SS), and nickel (Ni) electrodes in an undivided two-electrode system operating under a galvanostatic regime at a current density of 15 mA cm⁻². The primary goal was to compare the efficiency and kinetics of degradation across different electrode types. Experimental results demonstrated that GC electrodes, followed by SS, exhibited the highest degradation efficiency, with the process adhering to first-order kinetics. These findings highlight the advantages of GC electrodes in terms of speed and efficiency, offering valuable insights for optimizing treatment processes.