Synthesis of gas diffusion electrodes modified with SnO2-Nb2O5 for in situ H2O2 electrogeneration for microplastic aditives degradation

• Grant number: 22/12818-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: June 01, 2023
• Status: Discontinued
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Sanitary Engineering - Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment
• Principal Investigator: Marcos Roberto de Vasconcelos Lanza
• Grantee: Aline Resende Dória
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química de São Carlos (IQSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 22/12895-1 - Advanced processes for the degradation of emerging pollutants: catalytic materials, electroanalytical sensors and scientific dissemination, AP.TEM
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/06719-1 - Degradation of bisphenol F using in situ electrogenerated oxidants in flow reactors in different configurations, BE.EP.PD

Abstract

In recent years, advanced electrochemical oxidative processes (AEOP) based on the use of electrogenerated H2O2 have become a powerful tool for the treatment of contaminated water. However, the viability of AEOP-H2O2 depends on the development of efficient and low-cost catalyst materials to generate H2O2. The anode material also plays an important role, but its influence is still poorly studied for AEOP-H2O2. Therefore, this project aims to synthesize gas diffusion electrodes (GDE) based on Printex L6 carbon (CP-L6) modified with SnO2-Sb2O5 nanostructures. These oxides will be prepared for the first time by microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis, in order to reduce the synthesis time and improve the catalytic activity of these materials. Furthermore, Ti/SnO2-Sb2O5 anodes will be prepared by thermal decomposition, also using microwave irradiation as a heating source. The characterization of the synthesized electrocatalysts will be carried out using energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The synthesized materials will be used in AEOP-H2O2 for the removal of a microplastic additive: bisphenol F. The electrosynthesis of H2O2 will be monitored by UV/Vis spectroscopy and the efficiency of the degradation processes of bisphenol F will be monitored through high performance liquid cromatography (HPLC) and total organic carbon content (TOC) techniques. To evaluate the performance of the materials prepared on a large scale, a flow reactor equipped with the new optimized cathodic (SnO2-Sb2O5/CP-L6/EDG) and anodic (Ti/SnO2-Sb2O5) materials will be used.