Simultaneous degradation of hexazinone and diuron using ZrO2-nanostructured gas diffusion electrode

Author(s)

Carneiro, Jussara F. ^{[1, 2]} ; Silva, Fernando L. ^[1] ; Martins, Alysson S. ^[1] ; Dias, Rafael M. P. ^[1] ; Titato, Guilherme M. ^[1] ; Santos-Neto, Alvaro J. ^[1] ; Bertazzoli, Rodnei ^{[2, 3]} ; Lanza, Marcos R. V. ^{[1, 3]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Sao Carlos Inst Chem, Ave Trabalhador Sao Carlense 400, BR-13566590 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Estadual Campinas, Fac Mech Engn, Rua Mendeleyev 200, BR-13083860 Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[3] UNESP, Natl Inst Alternat Technol Detect, Toxicol Assessment & Removal Radioact & Micropoll, Inst Chem, BR-14800900 Araraquara, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL; v. 351, p. 650-659, NOV 1 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 1

Abstract

Although several authors have reported the treatment of diuron in wastewater by advanced oxidative processes (AOPs), only a handful of investigations reported using commercial herbicides composed of a mixture of active organic molecules. H2O2 is a well-known oxidant that is widely employed in AOPs and which can be produced by oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) on gas diffusion electrode (GDE). However, the development of efficient nonnoble electrocatalysts that consume less energy for ORR is still a matter of considerable interest. This study reports the electrogeneration of H2O2 on both unmodified and ZrO2-nanostructured GDE. The ZrO2-nanostructured GDE was applied toward the simultaneous degradation of hexazinone and diuron using the commercial formulation of these herbicides. The ZrO2-nanostructured and bare GDEs produced 435.6 mg L-1 and 225.8 mg L-1 of H2O2, respectively. Furthermore, an increase of 130.3% was observed in the current efficiency of oxygen reduction to H2O2 in the presence of ZrO2, indicating that less energy was consumed. Indeed, the production of 1 kg of H2O2 using ZrO2-nanostructured GDE consumes 10.2 kWh at 25 mA cm(-2), while bare GDE consumes 32.8 kWh at the same current density. Hexazinone and diuron were found to have been completely removed, albeit 28% of the organic carbon remained in solution after 120 min of electrolysis by H2O2/Fe(II)/UV. A complete removal of organic load will require longer treatment time. The residual carbon may be associated with other species present in the formulation. The results show that ZrO2-nanostructured GDE is a promising material suitable for environmental applications. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/10118-0 - Study and application of electrochemical technology for the analysis and degradation of endocrine interferents: materials, sensors, processes and scientific dissemination
• Grantee: Marcos Roberto de Vasconcelos Lanza
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 14/50945-4 - INCT 2014: National Institute for Alternative Technologies of Detection, Toxicological Evaluation and Removal of Micropollutants and Radioactivies
• Grantee: Maria Valnice Boldrin
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 17/02147-0 - Single drop chromatography and its coupling to mass spectrometry: instrumental strategies, development of materials, automation and analytical applications
• Grantee: Fernando Mauro Lanças
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 16/01937-4 - Synthesis of binary metal oxides (Nb, Zr, Ta, Ru, Mo and Co) supported on amorphous carbon for the production of gas diffusion electrodes (GDE) for the electrosynthesis of H2O2 in situ in flow reactors.
• Grantee: Marcos Roberto de Vasconcelos Lanza
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 11/14314-1 - Study of the modification of gas diffusion electrodes with redox catalysts for in situ electrogeneration of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)
• Grantee: Marcos Roberto de Vasconcelos Lanza
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants