Nanostructured composite boron-doped diamond/carbon nanotubes applied as electrode for degradation of textile dye via electrochemical advanced oxidation process

• Grant number: 18/06819-5
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): June 01, 2018
• Effective date (End): May 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal researcher: Evaldo Jose Corat
• Grantee: William Diniz Modesto Clementino de Toledo
• Home Institution: Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE). Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia, Inovações e Comunicações (Brasil). São José dos Campos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 12/15857-1 - Scientific studies and innovation application on CVD diamond, DLC and carbon nanostructures obtained by chemical vapor deposition technique, AP.TEM

Abstract

Reducing Dissolved Oxygen (DO) levels in water can have severe environmental implications for the survival of aquatic organisms. In this case, the decomposition of organic matter can be highlighted as one of the main reasons for the decrease of DO rates. Under natural conditions, this oxygen consumption is compensated by the oxygen produced in photosynthesis and aeration during the water course. However, the incorporation of significant amounts of organic matter due to the release of domestic sewage and industrial effluents, such as textile effluents, can impair this balance. Therefore, due to the importance of water for social and economic development, the search for clean and low-cost methods to promote effluent treatment has attracted increasing attention in recent years. The good characteristics of the boron doped diamond electrodes (DDB) with this purpose are already recognized in the literature. The proposal of this doctoral project is the development of a nanostructured composite composed of carbon nanotubes (NTCs) coated with DDB with increased area for application as electrode in water treatment. To accomplish this project, it is proposed to use the Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) method for the deposition of NTCs and for the coating with the DDB film. DDB films will be deposited on the nanotubes to guarantee the electrochemical stability, a wide working potential window and the generation of hydroxyl radicals in the Advanced Oxidative Process (AOP). The great challenge of this proposal lies in obtaining the optimal conditions for the morphology, doping level and coating of the DDB film on the NTCs that can guarantee the effectiveness of this nanocomposite in the treatment of a textile dye via AOP. (AU)