Recent progress in the combination of activated carbon adsorption and electrolysis for the treatment of wastes

Author(s)

de Mello, Rodrigo ; Motheo, Artur J. ; Saez, Cristina ; Rodrigo, Manuel A.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: CURRENT OPINION IN ELECTROCHEMISTRY; v. 36, p. 13-pg., 2022-11-11.

Abstract

This work describes the recent progress in the development of processes that combine activated carbon adsorption and electrolysis. Three different approaches were identified, and their recent progress and innovations are described. The first approach consists of the use of activated carbon as electrode and adsorbent simultaneously, either in monopolar or bipolar connection, to retain and oxidize directly pollutants on its surface. In the second approach, activated carbon does not act as an electrode, but merely provides heterogeneous catalytic sites for the destruction of pollutants with electrochemically produced oxidants. Finally, in the third approach, activated carbon is used in a two-phase process, first acting as an adsorbent to retain pollutants contained in a gaseous or aqueous stream and then releasing them into a methanol solution that is electrochemically regenerated in a second phase. Possible applications are also discussed not only for the treatment of liquid wastes, but also for gaseous polluted streams. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 18/16308-8 - Production and characterization of hybrid nanomaterials from electrospun nanofibers and evaluation of their efficiency against the electrochemical oxidation of atrazine
• Grantee: Rodrigo de Mello
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• 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: 20/03052-5 - Development of electrochemical process to emergent pollutant removal using a pre-concentration step
• Grantee: Rodrigo de Mello
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate