In-situ electrochemical synthesis of H2O2 for p-nitrophenol degradation utilizing a flow-through three-dimensional activated carbon cathode with regeneration capabilities

The growing ubiquity of recalcitrant organic contaminants in the aqueous environment poses risks to effective and efficient water treatment and reuse. A novel three-dimensional (3D) electrochemical flow-through reactor employing activated carbon (AC) encased in a stainless-steel (SS) mesh as a cathode is proposed for the removal and degradation of a model recalcitrant contaminant p-nitrophenol (PNP), a toxic compound that is not easily biodegradable or naturally photolyzed, can accumulate and lead to adverse environmental health outcomes, and is one of the more frequently detected pollutants in the environment. As a stable 3D electrode, granular AC supported by a SS mesh frame as a cathode is hypothesized to 1) electrogenerate H₂O₂ via a 2-electron oxygen reduction reaction on the AC surface, 2) initiate decomposition of this electrogenerated H₂O₂ to form hydroxyl radicals on catalytic sites of the AC surface 3) remove PNP molecules from the waste stream via adsorption, and 4) co-locate the PNP contaminant on the carbon surface to allow for oxidation by formed hydroxyl radicals. Additionally, this design is utilized to electrochemically regenerate the AC within the cathode that is significantly saturated with PNP to allow for environmentally friendly and economic reuse of this material. Under flow conditions with optimized parameters, the 3D AC electrode is nearly 20% more effective than traditional adsorption in removing PNP. 30 grams of AC within the 3D electrode can remove 100% of the PNP compound and 92% of TOC under flow. The carbon within the 3D cathode can be electrochemically regenerated in the proposed flow system and design thereby increasing the adsorptive capacity by 60%. Moreover, in combination with continuous electrochemical treatment, the total PNP removal is enhanced by 115% over adsorption. It is anticipated this platform holds great promises to eliminate analogous contaminants as well as mixtures.