Nanostructures for environmental remediation and power generation from renewable sources

Abstract

This project aims at the application of nanomaterials for two purposes: 1) Hydrogen peroxide Electrogeneration from oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), aiming to apply this product in Electrochemical Advanced Oxidative Processes (EAOPs) for the degradation of organic pollutants (dyes RB5, Sunset Yellow, Orange II, Ethion, Malathion, 17 alfa -ethinyl estradiol and Paracetamol) for the treatment of waste water from laundry water, Billings dam water and hospital discharge; and 2) Production of electrocatalysts to be tested on direct ethanol fuel cells with the purpose of producing clean and renewable energy. In the first part the processes can be carried out involving the use of UV light irradiation, Fenton reaction, photoelectro-Fenton, among others. In this perspective, (nanoparticles, nanorods and nanoflowers) W, Ce, Co, V, Sn, Mn, Ni supported on high surface area carbon and / or on carbon nanotubes, with or without the presence of Au, will be gas diffusion electrodes (cathodes) and (Pt) and boron doped anode (BDD) will be anodes with different doping levels of BDD (2500 and 5000 ppm) for the degradation of dyes, pesticides, drugs and hormones. In the second part, CeO2 nanorods electrocatalysts, nanoparticles and polygonal nanostructures defined as Pt, Sn, Ce, Pd and Nb, Pr, Zr, La, Pr and nanotubes / graphene as supports will be used in half cell situations, in accelerated stress tests, and in alkaline and / or acidic fuel cells for energy production, in situ FTIR-ATR spectroscopy will be used for the identification and quantification of products formed during the oxidation processes of ethanol (glycerol and ethylene glycol). The materials will be characterized by physical techniques such as X - ray Diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), Electron Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), X - ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) top identify particle size, phases and formation of nanostructures. The efficiency of the electrocatalysts will first be evaluated by means of voltammetric (linear scanning voltammetry for RRO), using a rotating disk-ring electrode, then using gas diffusion electrodes and reactors for the degradation of organic pollutants. In the degradation of organic pollutants using gas diffusion electrodes and electrochemical advanced oxidative processes (EAOPs), the processes will be accompanied by techniques such as (HPLC), Total Dissolved Organic Carbon Concentration (TOC) and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Voltametry and chronoamperometry for ethanol oxidation, ATR-FTIR in situ spectroscopy for identification and quantification of products, experiments from direct ethanol fuel cells for the evaluation of the best electrocatalysts. The development of the project aims to develop nanomaterials for the in-situ hydrogen peroxide electrogeneration, in addition to the use of EAOPs for the generation of radical hydroxyl with the peroxide electrogenerated in solution, for the degradation of RB5, Sunset Yellow, Orange II, Ethion, Malathion, 17 alpha ethynyl estradiol and Paracetamol. In addition, the production of clean and renewable energy from direct ethanol fuel cells. (AU)