Efficient SO2 Removal and Highly Synergistic H2O2 Production Based on a Novel Dual-Function Photoelectrocatalytic System

The direct conversion of SO₂ to SO₃ is rather difficult for flue gas desulfurization due to its inert dynamic with high reaction activation energy, and the absorption by wet limestone-gypsum also needs the forced oxidation of O₂ to oxidize sulfite to sulfate, which is necessary for additional aeration. Here, we propose a method to remove SO₂ with highly synergistic H₂O₂ production based on a novel dual-function photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) system in which the jointed spontaneous reaction of desulfurization and H₂O₂ production was integrated instead of nonspontaneous reaction of O₂ to H₂O₂. SO₂ was absorbed by alkali liquor then oxidized quickly into SO₄^2- by a nanorod α-Fe₂O₃ photoanode, which possessed high alkali corrosion resistance and electron transport properties. H₂O₂ was produced simultaneously in the cathode chamber on a gas diffusion electrode and was remarkably boosted by the conversion reaction of SO₃^2- to SO₄^2- in the anode chamber in which the released chemical energy was effectively used to increase H₂O₂. The photocurrent density increased by 40% up to 1.2 mA·cm^-2, and the H₂O₂ evolution rate achieved 58.8 μmol·L^-1·h^-1·cm^-2 with the synergistic treatment of SO₂, which is about five times than that without SO₂. This proposed PEC cell system offers a cost-effective and environmental-benign approach for dual purpose of flue gas desulfurization and simultaneous high-valued H₂O₂ production.