Electrocatalytic membrane containing CuFeO2/nanoporous carbon for organic dye removal application

Decolorizations, degradation and mineralization of wastewater containing dyes utilizing an electrocatalytic membrane reactor (ECMR) is a beneficial development to conventional advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) caused of its robust efficiency and sustainability and environmental appropriateness. We herein developed a stainless-steel mesh (SSM) electrode supported a porous membrane via incorporation of a PVDF casting solution containing CuFeO 2 delafossite nanoparticles impregnated in nanoporous carbon (NPC) biomass derived from apple powder as a critical electrocatalytic and chemical confinement active sites. The SSM membrane electrode was applied as the anode in a gravity-driven ECMR with deep-permeation and self-cleaning function and its concept-of-proof were investigated by methyl orange (MO, as typical azo dyes) electrocatalytic oxidation/filtration. As-designed system exhibiting a robust degradation efficiency of over 98.72% toward MO due to the heterointerfacial structure of CuFeO 2 and NPC, which provided the fast electron transfer and low recombination rate, the superior generation rate of the hydroxyl radicals, large effective surface area, self-regenerability, and the least fouling and concentration polarization. The TOC and COD analysis validated that the treatment by as-prepared ECM is proficient for effluent-treatment than the industrial physico-chemical treatments. This strategy beacon paves the headlight for the substantial understanding and designing of novel extremely effective and economic ECMs for several potential applications, including environmental remediation. • NPC/CuFeO 2 heterostructure significantly promotes MO dye electrocatalytic degradation. • OH, radicals have negligible effects on the degradation of MO dye. • The mechanisms of MO dye electrocatalytic degradation were proposed. • SSM/PVDF/NPC/CuFeO 2 membrane showed any fouling and metal leaching.