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Davies K, Allan MG, Nagarajan S, Townsend R, Asokan V, Watson T, Godfrey AR, Maroto-Valer MM, Kuehnel MF, Pitchaimuthu S. Photoelectrocatalytic Surfactant Pollutant Degradation and Simultaneous Green Hydrogen Generation. Ind Eng Chem Res 2023; 62:19084-19094. [PMID: 38020790 PMCID: PMC10655085 DOI: 10.1021/acs.iecr.3c00840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
For the first time, we demonstrate a photoelectrocatalysis technique for simultaneous surfactant pollutant degradation and green hydrogen generation using mesoporous WO3/BiVO4 photoanode under simulated sunlight irradiation. The materials properties such as morphology, crystallite structure, chemical environment, optical absorbance, and bandgap energy of the WO3/BiVO4 films are examined and discussed. We have tested the anionic type (sodium 2-naphthalenesulfonate (S2NS)) and cationic type surfactants (benzyl alkyl dimethylammonium compounds (BAC-C12)) as model pollutants. A complete removal of S2NS and BAC-C12 surfactants at 60 and 90 min, respectively, by applying 1.75 V applied potential vs RHE to the circuit, under 1 sun was achieved. An interesting competitive phenomenon for photohole utilization was observed between surfactants and adsorbed water. This led to the formation of H2O2 from water alongside surfactant degradation (anode) and hydrogen evolution (cathode). No byproducts were observed after the direct photohole mediated degradation of surfactants, implying its advantage over other AOPs and biological processes. In the cathode compartment, 82.51 μmol/cm2 and 71.81 μmol/cm2 of hydrogen gas were generated during the BAC-C12 and S2NS surfactant degradation process, respectively, at 1.75 V RHE applied potential.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael G. Allan
- Department
of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University, Singleton Park, SA2 8PP Swansea, Wales
| | - Sanjay Nagarajan
- Department
of Chemical Engineering, University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, U.K.
| | - Rachel Townsend
- Swansea
University Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Science,
Singleton Park, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, U.K.
| | - Vijayshankar Asokan
- Environmental
Inorganic Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Kemivägen 10, S-412 96 Göthenburg, Sweden
| | - Trystan Watson
- SPECIFIC,
Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea
University, Swansea SA2 8PP, Wales
| | - A. Ruth Godfrey
- Swansea
University Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Science,
Singleton Park, Swansea University, Swansea SA2 8PP, U.K.
| | - M. Mercedes Maroto-Valer
- Research
Centre for Carbon Solutions (RCCS), Institute of Mechanical, Processing
and Energy Engineering, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, U.K.
| | - Moritz F. Kuehnel
- Department
of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea University, Singleton Park, SA2 8PP Swansea, Wales
- Fraunhofer
Institute for Wind Energy Systems IWES, Am Haupttor 4310, 06237 Leuna, Germany
| | - Sudhagar Pitchaimuthu
- SPECIFIC,
Faculty of Science and Engineering, Swansea
University, Swansea SA2 8PP, Wales
- Research
Centre for Carbon Solutions (RCCS), Institute of Mechanical, Processing
and Energy Engineering, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh EH14 4AS, U.K.
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He Y, Zhang Y, Li L, Shen W, Li J. An efficient optofluidic photocatalytic fuel cell with dual-photoelectrode for electricity generation from wastewater treatment. J SOLID STATE CHEM 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jssc.2020.121780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Andrade TS, Vakros J, Mantzavinos D, Lianos P. Biochar obtained by carbonization of spent coffee grounds and its application in the construction of an energy storage device. CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL ADVANCES 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ceja.2020.100061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
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