Study of co-electrogeneration of hydrogen peroxide and percarbonate in bicarbonate media by gas diffusion electrodes modified with Fe2O3 nanoparticles in a double cathode reactor

• Grant number: 24/01354-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2024
• End date: June 29, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Sanitary Engineering - Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment
• Principal Investigator: Marcos Roberto de Vasconcelos Lanza
• Grantee: Oswaldo Costa Junior
• Supervisor: Manuel Andres 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: 22/14068-5 - Synthesis, characterization and study of the electrocatalytic activity of Fe3-xVxO4 nanoparticles (0dxd0.04), applied in the oxygen reduction reaction process for H2O2 electrogeneration., BP.IC

Abstract

The use of compounds in industrial processes to meet population demand has resulted in the contamination of water resources. These substances are not efficiently removed by the classic water and sewage treatment process. For this, electrochemical technology is used, which produces oxidizing agents such as percarbonate (C2O62-) and hydroxyl radicals (*OH), capable of breaking down pollutants. To overcome the disadvantages of the current industrial method of producing these agents, we are studying ways of producing them in a green way, without the use of organic solvents. This alternative production is based on electrochemical advanced oxidative processes (EAOPs), which generate percarbonate through anodic oxidation (AO) with high overpotential electrodes for oxygen evolution, while hydrogen peroxide is generated through the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), which takes place at the cathode of the system. Based on the studies carried out to date, this project aims to optimize the production of these two oxidizing species simultaneously, in different compartments, using the same current, thus reducing the energy costs of the process and making it more attractive. Tests will be carried out with different cathode configurations (gas diffusion electrodes - GDE) and anodes (boron doped diamond - BDD, and dimensionally stable anode - DSA), in order to find the most efficient method.