Effect of Nb2O5 nanoparticles in the modification of carbon felt to be used as a cathode in electrochemical advanced oxidation processes for the degradation of endocrine disruptors

Abstract

The scarcity of water and the constant contamination of water resources by different pollutants such as endocrine disruptors has become a global concern, since the conventional methods used for treating contaminated effluents have been shown to be inefficient in the degradation of endocrine disruptors, being detected in different bodies of water and in drinking water. This requires a lot of attention as exposure to endocrine disruptors can cause problems in the reproductive, brain, and immune systems of animals and humans. In this sense, this research project aims to develop a promising method for the treatment of effluents contaminated by endocrine disruptors, such as methylparaben and atrazine, using different electrochemical advanced oxidation processes, which are effective in the degradation of emerging pollutants. For this, the carbon felt will be modified with Nb2O5 nanoparticles to be applied as a cathode in the in situ electrogeneration of hydrogen peroxide together with an efficient boron-doped diamond anode in anodic oxidation, electro-Fenton and photoelectro-Fenton processes. In the electro-Fenton processes, ²-Fe2O3 will be used as a source of iron to carry out heterogeneous electro-Fenton process. In addition, a TiO2 photoanode will also be used in hybrid photoelectro-Fenton/electrophotocatalysis process with aim of increasing the efficiency of degradation of endocrine disruptors. (AU)