Electrochemical oxidation of methylparaben on mixed metal oxide anodes

• Grant number: 18/06170-9
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): July 01, 2018
• Effective date (End): June 30, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Artur de Jesus Motheo
• Grantee: Giovanna Fardini Lima
• Home Institution: Instituto de Química de São Carlos (IQSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Parabens are organic molecules used in industry as fungicides, mostly in hygiene products and cosmetics, and as the so called emerging pollutants, are not easily removed from wastewater by conventional methods. Due to its character as a potential endocrine disruptor in humans and animals, the search for efficient methods for its degradation and removal of the environment became important now days. The electrochemical oxidation processes have gained notoriety in the degradation of several organic pollutants through the use of metal oxide mixing (MMO) electrodes. Therefore, the present work seeks to perform the electrochemical oxidation of methyl paraben using MMO anodes prepared from precursor solutions of ionic liquids and a commercial anode (De Nora - Brazil), the latter for comparison between the anodes. Two operational parameters will have their influences evaluated: the nature and concentration of the support electrolyte and the current density applied during the electrochemical oxidation process. Electrodes' physical characterization will be done in order to evaluate their morphology, carry out by scanning electronic microscopy all together with the dispersive energy spectroscopy, and their composition by X-ray diffraction. Electrochemical characterization will be performed by cyclic voltammetry, which will allows to determinate the active area and stability of the electrodes. The degradation of methyl paraben will be accompanied by high performance liquid chromatography, liquid chromatography coupled to the mass spectrometer, UV-vis spectroscopy and total organic carbon determinations. (AU)