Nanostructured electrocatalysts based on manganese and tungsten oxides supported on carbon for electrogeneration of hydrogen peroxide and electrochemical degradation of ciprofloxacino

Abstract

Emerging pollutants are extremely resistant to conventional wastewater treatment processes. Therefore, the development of effective "green" technologies to address these problems is seen as a major challenge today. Recently, research activities have focused on PEOAs (Advanced Electrochemical Oxidative Processes) as a promising alternative technology for wastewater treatment, due to its high efficiency for organic pollutant removal. In view of this, this project aims the synthesis and characterization of catalysts based on carbon Printex L6 and carbon cloth, modified with nanostructured MnO2 and WO3 oxides in nanoflower morphology, aiming the construction of gaseous diffusion electrodes (cathodes) for H2O2 electrogeneration and, that, with anodes of DDB, Pt and WO3 photoanodes will be applied in Advanced Oxidative Electrochemical Processes in conjunction with the use of simulated solar or real solar radiation source (Solar photoelectro-Fenton) for further treatment of simulated effluents and synthetic urine contaminated by the antibiotic ciprofloxacin. The materials will be characterized by physical techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman and contact angle, where aspects such as composition, particle size, phases, nanostructure formation and hydrophilicity will be evaluated in the case of cathodes. Prepared gas diffusion electrodes (cathodes) and anodes of boron doped diamond, Pt and WO3 photoanodes will be used in reactors for the degradation of organic pollutants. The degradation processes will be evaluated by techniques such as HPLC, Total Dissolved Organic Carbon Concentration Measure (TOC) and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. The possible dissolution of the catalyst will be studied by UV-Visible Spectrophotometry and/or Atomic Absorption Spectrometry with Flame Atomization. This project development aims achieve better better results of ciprofloxacin degradation, combined with lower costs of treatment, operation and mineralization, using nanostructured materials. (AU)