Oxidation of phenol on RuO2–TiO2/Ti anodes

Coal to Clean: Comparing Advanced Electrodes for Desulfurization and Copper Recovery

This study explores the electrochemical desulfurization of coal and the recovery of copper (Cu) using dimensionally stable anode (DSA) electrodes.

BACKGROUND

The research addresses the need for effective sulfur removal from coal to reduce emissions.

METHODS

Electrochemical desulfurization was conducted using DSA and graphite electrodes, evaluating parameters like activation energy, desulfurization rate, and energy consumption. Cyclic voltammetry and linear sweep voltammetry were used to study the electrochemical properties.

RESULTS

The DSA electrode demonstrated superior performance with higher desulfurization rates, lower activation energy, and better response to temperature increases compared to the graphite electrode. Optimal desulfurization was achieved at 50 °C with the DSA electrode, balancing efficiency and energy consumption. Copper recovery from the solution post-desulfurization was effective, with an 86.34% recovery rate at -0.15 V vs. (Ag|AgCl). The energy consumption for the Cu recovery was calculated to be 10.56 J, and the total cost for recovering 1 ton of Cu was approximately 781.20 €.

CONCLUSIONS

The study highlights the advantages of DSA electrodes for efficient sulfur removal and metal recovery, promoting cleaner energy production and environmental sustainability. Future research should focus on optimizing electrochemical conditions and scaling up the process for industrial applications.

A new perspective on the photocatalytic action of titanium dioxide on phenol elucidated using comprehensive multiphase NMR

Comprehensive Multiphase NMR (CMP-NMR) is a recently developed technique capable of simultaneously observing different phases - solutions, gels, and solids - while providing the chemical specificity of traditional NMR. With this new tool, the heterogeneous photocatalysis of phenol by titanium dioxide (P25 TiO₂) is re-examined to gain information about the occurrence of reaction at different regions between the catalyst and the solution. It was found that the proportion of phenol in different phases changes over the course of the photodegradation period. The photocatalyst appears to preferentially degrade phenol molecules that are weakly associated with the surface, such that they have restricted mobility in a 'gel-like' state. Diffusion Ordered Spectroscopy (DOSY) corroborates the relative change in phenol signals between freely diffusing solution and diffusion restricted gels as measured using CMP-NMR. The surface of P25 TiO₂ was found to foul over the course of the 200-hour photodegradation period that was monitored using the solid-state capabilities of the CMP-NMR. Finally, CMP-NMR showed differences in the photodegradation of phenol by P25 TiO₂ to that of a TiO₂-nitrogen doped graphene quantum dot (NGQD) composite. With the latter composite, no fouling of the surface was seen over time. This application of CMP-NMR to the field of catalysis demonstrates its potential to better understand and study photocatalytic systems in general.

Photoelectrochemical properties of sol-gel obtained titanium oxide

The photoelectrochemical properties of a sol-gel prepared titanium oxide coating applied onto a Ti substrate were investigated. The oxide coating was formed from an inorganic sol thermally treated in air at 350?C. The coating consisted of agglomerates of narrow size distribution around 100 nm. The photoelectrochemical characteristics were evaluated by investigating the changes in the open circuit potential, current transients and impedance characteristics of a Ti/TiO2 electrode upon illumination by UV light in H2SO4 solution and in the oxidation of benzyl alcohol. The electrode was found to be active for photoelectrochemical reactions in the investigated solutions.

Effect of Sb dopant amount on the structure and electrocatalytic capability of Ti/Sb-SnO2 electrodes in the oxidation of 4-chlorophenol

Ti/Sb-SnO2 anodes were prepared by thermal decomposition to examine the influence of the amount of Sb dopant on the structure and electrocatalytic capability of the electrodes in the oxidation of 4-chlorophenol. The physicochemical properties of the Sb-SnO2 coating were markedly influenced by different amounts of Sb dopant. The electrodes, which contained 5% Sb dopant in the coating, presented a much more homogenous surface and much smaller mud-cracks, compared with Ti/Sb-SnO2 electrodes containing 10% or 15% Sb dopant, which exibited larger mud cracks and pores on the surface. However, the main microstructure remained unchanged with the addition of the Sb dopant. No new crystal phase was observed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The electrochemical oxidation of 4-chlorophenol on the Ti/SnO2 electrode with 5% Sb dopant was inclined to electrochemical combustion; while for those containing more Sb dopant, intermediate species were accumulated. The electrodes with 5% Sb dopant showed the highest efficiency in the bulk electrolysis of 4-chlorophenol at a current density of 20 mA/cm2 for 180 min; and the removal rates of 4-chlorophenol and COD were 51.0% and 48.9%, respectively.

Activity and stability of RuO2-coated titanium anodes prepared via the alkoxide route

Titanium anodes with an active RuO2 coating of two different thicknesses were prepared from the oxide suspended in ethanol ("ink" method), while the oxide itself was synthesized by the hydrolysis of ruthenium ethoxide in an ethanolic solution (alkoxide route). The morphology of prepared oxide was examined by scanning electron microscopy. The electrochemical properties of the prepared Ti/RuO2 anodes, involving their cyclic voltammetric behavior in H2SO4 and NaCl solutions, activity in the chlorine and oxygen evolution reaction, impedance behavior in H2SO4, and stability during electrolysis in dilute chloride solutions, were investigated. The performances of the anodes are compared to those of a Ti/RuO2 anode prepared by the sol-gel procedure from an oxide sol obtained by the forced hydrolysis of ruthenium chloride in acid solution. The anodes prepared via the alkoxide route showed a higher capacitance and activity for the chlorine evolution reaction than the anode prepared by the inorganic sol-gel procedure. The results of the stability test showed that the utilization of the coating active material is better when the anodes were prepared via the alkoxide route than via the inorganic sol-gel procedure, particularly for anodes with a smaller mass of coating. The different rates of loss of activity indicate a degradation mechanism for the anodes prepared via the alkoxide route in which electrochemical dissolution of RuO2 from the coating surface prevails over the growth of an insulating TiO2 layer in the coating/Ti substrate interphase. The effect of RuO2 dissolution from the coating surface increases with increasing coating mass.