Enhanced electro-Fenton catalytic performance with in-situ grown Ce/Fe@NPC-GF as self-standing cathode: Fabrication, influence factors and mechanism

Shuying Qiu; Yan Wang; Jinquan Wan; Yongwen Ma; Zhicheng Yan; Shou Yang

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130269

Enhanced electro-Fenton catalytic performance with in-situ grown Ce/Fe@NPC-GF as self-standing cathode: Fabrication, influence factors and mechanism

Chemosphere. 2021 Jun:273:130269. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130269. Epub 2021 Mar 16.

Authors

Shuying Qiu¹, Yan Wang², Jinquan Wan³, Yongwen Ma⁴, Zhicheng Yan⁵, Shou Yang⁶

Affiliations

¹ College of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China. Electronic address: 1549403123@qq.com.
² College of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China; Guangdong Plant Fiber High-Valued Cleaning Utilization Engineering Technology Research Center, Guangzhou, 510640, China. Electronic address: yanwang@scut.edu.cn.
³ College of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China; Guangdong Plant Fiber High-Valued Cleaning Utilization Engineering Technology Research Center, Guangzhou, 510640, China. Electronic address: ppjqwan@scut.edu.cn.
⁴ College of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China; Guangdong Plant Fiber High-Valued Cleaning Utilization Engineering Technology Research Center, Guangzhou, 510640, China. Electronic address: ppywma@scut.edu.cn.
⁵ College of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China. Electronic address: yanzc@scut.edu.cn.
⁶ College of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China. Electronic address: 1486114887@qq.com.

PMID: 33773811
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130269

Abstract

Heterogeneous electro-Fenton (E-F) is considered as an attractive technique for efficient removal of refractory organic pollutants in wastewater. The regeneration of Fe^II and catalyst reusability are key issues for effective and sustainable degradation. Developing binder-free iron phase/carbon composite cathode is a feasible strategy. In this work, the stable Ce/Fe-nanoporous carbon modified graphite felt electrode (Ce/Fe@NPC-GF) was fabricated using in situ solvothermal method and subsequent carbonization treatment, which worked as the cathode in a heterogeneous electro-Fenton system to degrade sulfamethoxazole. The electrocatalytic activity was significantly improved with doping of Ce. It was found that mesoporous Ce/Fe@NPC-GF cathode demonstrated high oxygen reduction activity and low resistance. The co-existence of Fe^Ⅱ/Fe^Ⅲ and Ce^Ⅲ/Ce^Ⅳ redox couples enhanced remarkably interfacial electron transfer, promoting in-situ H₂O₂ generation and decomposition, sequentially boosting the production of reactive radicals (·OH and ·O₂^-). Under 20 mA and pH 3, Sulfamethoxazole (SMX) was basically degraded in 120 min, and the removal rate was satisfactory in wide pH (2-6). After 8 cycles, the electrode could still maintain high stability and outstanding catalytic capacity. This work displayed a novel in-situ preparation method of composite cathode with excellent catalytic performance in E-F system, which offered inspiration for developing efficient heterogeneous electro-Fenton cathode material.

Keywords: Electron transfer; Heterogeneous electro-Fenton; Hydroxyl radical; Metal-organic frameworks; Oxygen reduction reaction.

MeSH terms

Catalysis
Electrodes
Ferric Compounds
Hydrogen Peroxide*
Oxidation-Reduction
Wastewater
Water Pollutants, Chemical*

Substances

Ferric Compounds
Waste Water
Water Pollutants, Chemical
Hydrogen Peroxide