Mineralization of paracetamol using a gas diffusion electrode modified with ceria high aspect ratio nanostructures

Author(s)

Pinheiro, Victor S. ^[1] ; Paz, Edson C. ^{[1, 2]} ; Aveiro, Luci R. ^[1] ; Parreira, Luanna S. ^[3] ; Souza, Felipe M. ^[1] ; Camargo, Pedro H. C. ^[3] ; Santos, Mauro C. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed ABC UFABC, CCNH, LEMN, Rua Santa Adelia 166, BR-09210170 Santo Andre, SP - Brazil

^[2] Inst Fed Educ Ciencia & Tecnol Maranhao IFMA, Campus Acailandia, R Projetada S-N, BR-65930000 Acailandia, MA - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, IQ, Av Prof Lineu Prestes, BR-05508000 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Electrochimica Acta; v. 295, p. 39-49, FEB 1 2019.
• Web of Science Citations: 3

Abstract

A large number of pharmaceutical drugs have been found in effluents because conventional treatments are not efficient in their removal. Among these drugs, paracetamol is a cause of concern due to its great use worldwide. In this context, electrochemical advanced oxidation processes (EAOPs) based on the Fenton process have been studied because they are able to remove these persistent organic pollutants. This work aims to use an electrocatalyst based on Vulcan XC-72 carbon black modified with 1% ceria high aspect ratio nanostructures (1% CeO2 HARN/Vulcan XC-72) as a gas diffusion electrode (GDE) for both hydrogen peroxide electrogeneration and paracetamol degradation using Fenton-like processes. These studies were evaluated using two different anodes, Pt and boron-doped diamond (BDD). The results obtained in the H2O2 electrogeneration indicated a large increase in the efficiency of the modified gas diffusion electrode (MGDE) with the 1% CeO2 HARN/Vulcan XC-72 electrocatalyst compared to the Vulcan XC-72 GDE without modification. Approximately 1463 mg L-1 of H2O2 with an energy consumption of 11.5 kWh kg(-1) and a current efficiency of 44.9% was obtained. The tested EAOPs showed paracetamol mineralization rates of up to 98.4% after 6 h of electrolysis in 350 mL of acidic medium. The MGDE also showed a high stability without loss of H2O2 electrogeneration capacity after 130 h of use, making it promising in applications for EAOPs aiming at organic pollutant mineralization. (C) 2018 Published by Elsevier Ltd. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 17/22976-0 - Development of palladium and niobium nanoelectrocatalysts for alkaline direct ethanol fuel cells
• Grantee: Felipe de Moura Souza
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• FAPESP's process: 15/10314-8 - Nanostructures for Phenol, Ciprofloxacin and 17±-ethinylestradiol Degradation
• Grantee: Mauro Coelho dos Santos
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• 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: 17/26288-1 - Hybrid electrocatalysts based on Pd, Pt and Sn nanoparticles, and on ceria nanorods for application in fuel cells
• Grantee: Victor dos Santos Pinheiro
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 15/21366-9 - HYBRID MATERIALS CONTAINING METAL NANOPARTICLES FOR CATALYTIC APPLICATIONS
• Grantee: Pedro Henrique Cury Camargo
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 16/00819-8 - Controlled Synthesis of Nanomaterials based on Pd and Pt: Electrocatalytic Activity and Stability
• Grantee: Luanna Silveira Parreira
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• FAPESP's process: 17/21846-6 - Nanostructures for environmental remediation and power generation from renewable sources
• Grantee: Mauro Coelho dos Santos
• Support Opportunities: Program for Research on Bioenergy (BIOEN) - Regular Program Grants