Photoelectrocatalytic/photoelectro-Fenton coupling system using a nanostructured photoanode for the oxidation of a textile dye: Kinetics study and oxidation pathway.

Lucio C Almeida, Bianca F Silva, Maria V B Zanoni

Index: Chemosphere 136 , 63-71, (2015)

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Abstract

In this study, a coupled photoelectrocatalytic/photoelectro-Fenton reactor was designed to enhance the degradation efficiency of organic pollutants and tested using the azo dye Orange G as a model compound. Pt-decorated TiO2 nanotubes were used as a photoanode with an air-diffusion polytetrafluoroethylene cathode for H2O2 generation. The sum of individual effects of coupling the photoelectrocatalytic and photoelectro-Fenton processes was evaluated as a function of the decolorization and mineralization of Orange G solutions. The dye solutions were only completely decolorized in more acidic conditions (pH 3.0). The mineralization of the Orange G solutions increased in the sequence photoelectrocatalytic