Application of low-cost nanomaterials for degradation of endocrine disruptors through advanced electrochemical oxidation processes under the influence of a magnetic field

• Grant number: 22/10484-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date until: April 01, 2023
• Status: Discontinued
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Mauro Coelho dos Santos
• Grantee: Caio Machado Fernandes
• 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
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/03549-8 - Innovative Electrochemical Reactor Design for Pollutants Removal through Solar Photoelectro-Fenton, BE.EP.PD

Abstract

One of the classes of emerging contaminants that most concern the scientific community is endocrine disruptors. These compounds alter the endocrine system, impairing hormonal activities, being highly harmful to human health. Considering the need to reverse this situation in aqueous effluents, this work proposes the degradation and/or mineralization of bisphenol S, polyhalogenated diphenyls and 4-tert-octylphenol through advanced oxidative processes. Cerium, nickel, iron and cobalt nanoparticles are known in the literature to be excellent catalysts in Electro- and Photo-Fenton reactions and will be synthesized and anchored in Printex L6 and Vulcan XC72 carbon. These materials will be supported on carbon cloth and applied directly as cathodes for the oxygen reduction reaction and H2O2 generation, being applied in Electro-, Photo- and simulated solar assisted Photo-Electro-Fenton processes. As an original and innovative idea of this project, it is proposed the application of a continuous or alternating magnetic field during electrochemical experiments, in order to modify the electronic structures of nanomaterials (continuous magnetic field), aligning their magnetic domains, and increasing the local temperature at the cathode (alternating magnetic field), thus directly influencing their actions as electrocatalysts. It is noteworthy that the proposal to study the influence of the magnetic field on Fenton-derived reactions for the degradation of endocrine disruptors is unprecedented in research not only in Brazil, but in the world, thus allowing a great scientific advance and the emergence of a new line of research, thus opening the possibility of investigating a large number of variables over the years.