Use of Vulcan XC-72 carbon modified with fluorine and/or cerium doped niobium nanostructures in the electrogeneration of H2O2 for degradation of endocrine disruptors by advanced electrochemical oxidative processes

• Grant number: 21/14394-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): August 01, 2022
• Effective date (End): July 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Sanitary Engineering - Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment
• Principal Investigator: Mauro Coelho dos Santos
• Grantee: Aline Barrios Trench
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas (CCNH). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Ministério da Educação (Brasil). Santo André , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 17/10118-0 - Study and application of electrochemical technology for the analysis and degradation of endocrine interferents: materials, sensors, processes and scientific dissemination, AP.TEM

Abstract

Endocrine disruptors, considered emerging pollutants, pose health risks by negatively affecting the functioning of the endocrine system of both humans and animals. They are present as contaminants in different effluents, being of extreme importance the adequate treatment of these effluents for the reuse of water, which is essential for life and which has been notoriously threatened. In this sense, this project aims to develop a viable and promising method for the treatment of effluents contaminated by endocrine disruptors using advanced electrochemical oxidative processes based on the Fenton process, which are effective in the degradation of emerging pollutants. For this, the synthesis and characterization of electrocatalysts based on niobium nanostructures doped with fluorine and/or cerium supported on Vulcan XC-72 carbon will be carried out for the manufacture of gas diffusion electrodes, which will be applied as cathodes in the electrogeneration of hydrogen peroxide together with an efficient anode, such as boron-doped diamond, in anodic, electro-Fenton, Photoelectro-Fenton, and Solar Photoelectro-Fenton oxidation processes, aiming at the degradation of endocrine disruptors such as 17±-ethinylestradiol, methylparaben, and atrazine in real and /or simulated effluents. In addition, a TiO2 photoanode will also be tested in order to couple the electro-Fenton and photoelectrocatalysis processes. Such coupling process has been recently reported in the literature and has been shown to be an effective and promising method for the degradation of emerging pollutants. In this sense, it is believed that with the aid of this study it is possible to develop an efficient and innovative way of treating effluents contaminated with endocrine disruptors. (AU)