Coupling cathodic electro-fenton with anodic photo-electrochemical oxidation: A feasibility study on the mineralization of paracetamol

• Published in: Journal of environmental chemical engineering Vol. 8; no. 5; p. 104394
• Main Authors: Orimolade, Benjamin O., Zwane, Busisiwe N., Koiki, Babatunde A., Rivallin, Matthieu, Bechelany, Mikhael, Mabuba, Nonhlangabezo, Lesage, Geoffroy, Cretin, Marc, Arotiba, Omotayo A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-10-2020; Elsevier
• Subjects: Chemical Sciences; Electro-Fenton; Environmental Engineering; Environmental Sciences; Other; Paracetamol; Photoanode; Photoelectrochemical oxidation; Wastewater treatment; Electro-Fenton; Paracetamol; Photoelectrochemical oxidation; Photoanode; Wastewater treatment; photoanode; paracetamol; wastewater treatment
• ISSN: 2213-3437; 2213-3437; 2213-2929
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2020.104394

PEC: photoelectrochemical Oxidation; T-CF: thermally treated carbon felt.
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•Electro-Fenton was coupled with photoelectrochemical degradation – E.F/PEC.•EF mineralisation of paracetamol yielded 71 % TOC removal after 4 h at 20 mA cm−1.•EF/PEC mineralisation of paracetamol was 92 % TOC removal in 4 h at 10 mA cm−1.•EF/PEC has 64 % lower energy consumption for mineralisation than EF.•The treated water showed low toxicity towards aquatic bacteria -Vibrio fisheri.
A cathodic electro-Fenton (EF) process consisting of thermally treated carbon felt and anodic photoelectrochemical (PEC) oxidation process consisting of bismuth vanadate – bismuth oxyiodide electrodeposited on fluorine doped tin oxide glass (FTO-BiVO4/BiOI) were coupled into a single electrochemical advanced oxidation system for the mineralisation of paracetamol. EF degradation of paracetamol yielded 71 % total organic carbon (TOC) removal after 4 h with a current density of 20 mA cm−2. With the coupled EF/PEC system, the complete removal of paracetamol was achieved within 2 h and a higher mineralisation of 92 % TOC removal after 4 h was recorded with a 10 mA cm−2 current density. The specific energy consumption of the EF/PEC process was about 64 % lower than the energy consumption of EF process alone. The treated aqueous solution exhibited reduced toxicity in comparison with the untreated solution with about 1% inhibition of Vibrio fisheri. This EF/PEC system showed a synergic improvement in performance over EF and PEC.