Treatment of VOCs by a combined absorption and heterogeneous electron-Fenton using iron-modified cathodes

• Grant number: 22/03386-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: November 05, 2022
• End date: November 04, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Sanitary Engineering - Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment
• Principal Investigator: Marcos Roberto de Vasconcelos Lanza
• Grantee: Géssica de Oliveira Santiago Santos
• Supervisor: Manuel Andrés Rodrigo Rodrigo
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química de São Carlos (IQSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Ciudad Real (UCLM), Spain
• Associated to the scholarship: 20/02743-4 - Fe/RuO2-TiO2 films supported on carbon felt for norfloxacin degradation by heterogeneous electro-fenton process, BP.PD

Abstract

The application of electrochemical advanced oxidation processes (EAOP) in the treatment of gaseous pollutants has becoming a topic of increased interest. In this line, the use of more sustainable technologies for the treatment of toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by combination of an EAOP with absorption technique appears as a very promising strategy. Among EAOP, heterogeneous electro-Fenton (HEF) systems stands out by its efficiency, capability of operate in wide pH range and catalyst reusability, overcoming the main drawbacks of classical EF. In this process, the development of novel cathodic materials is of crucial importance due to great role of hydrogen peroxide electrogenerated at cathode's surface to be activated by the heterogeneous catalyst generating a highly oxidant specie, the hydroxyl radical. Within this context, the present request for a research internship abroad proposes the treatment of VOCs in gas-liquid medium by the absorption combined with the HEF process equipped with new iron-modified cathodic materials in flow reactors. With this, it is expected the development of an innovative process to treat liquid wastes containing gaseous pollutants. The iron-modified cathodes that will be used in the HEF will be those previously prepared in Brazil, which has been demonstrated promisor results for water treatment. Important parameters of the combined process will be evaluated, such as the flow rate ratios of gas stream, electrolyte/absorbent composition and applied current. The degradation of VOCs and main intermediates formed will be monitored by gas chromatography (GC), liquid chromatography (LC) and TOC measurements. Finally, the development of cost-effective and more sustainable technologies for the treatment of VOCs is a topic of great interest of scientific community. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

SANTOS, GESSICA O. S.; GOULART, LORENA A.; CORDEIRO-JUNIOR, PAULO J. M.; SANCHEZ-MONTES, ISAAC; LANZA, MARCOS R., V. Pharmaceutical contaminants: Ecotoxicological aspects and recent advances in oxidation technologies for their removal in aqueous matrices. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, v. 10, n. 6, p. 31-pg., 2022-11-16. (16/08760-2, 17/10118-0, 20/02743-4, 21/13314-0, 20/07351-7, 16/19612-4, 22/03386-6)

SANCHEZ-MONTES, ISAAC; SANTOS, GESSICA O. S.; DOS SANTOS, ALEXSANDRO J.; FERNANDES, CARLOS H. M.; SOUTO, ROBSON S.; CHELME-AYALA, PAMELA; EL-DIN, MOHAMED GAMAL; LANZA, MARCOS R. V.. Toxicological aspect of water treated by chlorine-based advanced oxidation processes: A review. Science of The Total Environment, v. 878, p. 20-pg., 2023-06-20. (14/50945-4, 20/02743-4, 22/03386-6, 17/10118-0, 20/07351-7, 21/13314-0, 19/20634-0, 21/08701-4)