Photoelectrocatalytic treatment of real wastewater combined with H2 generation

• Grant number: 24/23684-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: April 01, 2025
• End date: January 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Analytical Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Juliana Ferreira de Brito
• Grantee: Gabriel Gonçalves Borges
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 23/10027-5 - Reduction of species such as H+, CO2, and N2 for energy generation concomitantly with oxidation of organic contaminants, AP.PNGP.PI

Abstract

The growing impact of human activities on ecosystems highlights the need for technological solutions to global challenges such as greenhouse gas emissions, industrial effluent pollution, and the search for alternatives to fossil fuels. In the context of wastewater treatment, industrial residues, such as those generated by citrus juice production, contain high organic loads and recalcitrant contaminants, posing significant risks to the environment and public health. This study proposes the application of photoelectrocatalysis as an efficient solution for treating such effluents, promoting the oxidation of organic pollutants while simultaneously reducing protons at the cathode to generate green hydrogen. The proposal includes the synthesis of WO3-Fe2O3 semiconductors for pollutant oxidation, the development of porous nickel electrodes (NiP), and the optimization of parameters such as applied potential, pH, and reaction time. By integrating environmental remediation and clean energy production, this study aims to contribute to environmental sustainability and the transition to a more efficient and decarbonized energy matrix.