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Xue Y, Yu Q, Fang J, Jia Y, Wang R, Fan J. A Wetting and Capture Strategy Overcoming Electrostatic Repulsion for Electroreduction of Nitrate to Ammonia from Low-Concentration Sewage. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2400505. [PMID: 38477685 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202400505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Ammonia production by electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR) in water streams is anticipated as a zero-carbon route. Limited by dilute nitrate in natural sewage and the electrostatic repulsion between NO3 - and cathode, NO3RR can hardly be achieved energy-efficiently. The hydrophilic Cu@CuCoO2 nano-island dispersed on support can enrich NO3 - and produce a sensitive current response, followed by electrosynthesis of ammonia through atomic hydrogen (*H) is reported. The accumulated NO3 - can be partially converted to NO2 - without external electric field input, confirming that the Cu@CuCoO2 nano-island can strongly bind NO3 - and then trigger the reduction via dynamic evolution between Cu-Co redox sites. Through the identification of intermediates and theoretical computation. it is found that the N-side hydrogenation of *NO is the optimal reaction step, and the formation of N─N dimer may be prevented. An NH3 product selectivity of 93.5%, a nitrate conversion of 96.1%, and an energy consumption of 0.079 kWh gNH3 -1 is obtained in 48.9 mg-N L-1 naturally nitrate-polluted streams, which outperforms many works using such dilute nitrate influent. Conclusively, the electrocatalytic system provides a platform to guarantee the self-sufficiency of dispersed ammonia production in agricultural regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinghao Xue
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, P. R. China
| | - Qihui Yu
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Materials Utilization of Nonmetallic Minerals and Solid Wastes, School of Materials Sciences and Technology, China University of Geosciences, Beijing, 100083, P. R. China
| | - Junhua Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, P. R. China
| | - Yan Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, P. R. China
| | - Rongchang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, P. R. China
| | - Jianwei Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, P. R. China
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2
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Zhou B, Yu L, Zhang W, Liu X, Zhang H, Cheng J, Chen Z, Zhang H, Li M, Shi Y, Jia F, Huang Y, Zhang L, Ai Z. Cu 1-Fe Dual Sites for Superior Neutral Ammonia Electrosynthesis from Nitrate. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202406046. [PMID: 38771293 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202406046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 05/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
The electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR) is able to convert nitrate (NO3 -) into reusable ammonia (NH3), offering a green treatment and resource utilization strategy of nitrate wastewater and ammonia synthesis. The conversion of NO3 - to NH3 undergoes water dissociation to generate active hydrogen atoms and nitrogen-containing intermediates hydrogenation tandemly. The two relay processes compete for the same active sites, especially under pH-neutral condition, resulting in the suboptimal efficiency and selectivity in the electrosynthesis of NH3 from NO3 -. Herein, we constructed a Cu1-Fe dual-site catalyst by anchoring Cu single atoms on amorphous iron oxide shell of nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) for the electrochemical NO3RR, achieving an impressive NO3 - removal efficiency of 94.8 % and NH3 selectivity of 99.2 % under neutral pH and nitrate concentration of 50 mg L-1 NO3 --N conditions, greatly surpassing the performance of nZVI counterpart. This superior performance can be attributed to the synergistic effect of enhanced NO3 - adsorption on Fe sites and strengthened water activation on single-atom Cu sites, decreasing the energy barrier for the rate-determining step of *NO-to-*NOH. This work develops a novel strategy of fabricating dual-site catalysts to enhance the electrosynthesis of NH3 from NO3 -, and presents an environmentally sustainable approach for neutral nitrate wastewater treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biao Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, Engineering Research Center of Photoenergy Utilization for Pollution Control and Carbon Reduction of Ministry of Education, Institute of Applied & Environmental Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, P. R. China
| | - Linghao Yu
- Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, Engineering Research Center of Photoenergy Utilization for Pollution Control and Carbon Reduction of Ministry of Education, Institute of Applied & Environmental Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, P. R. China
| | - Weixing Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, Engineering Research Center of Photoenergy Utilization for Pollution Control and Carbon Reduction of Ministry of Education, Institute of Applied & Environmental Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, P. R. China
| | - Xupeng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, Engineering Research Center of Photoenergy Utilization for Pollution Control and Carbon Reduction of Ministry of Education, Institute of Applied & Environmental Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, P. R. China
| | - Hao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, Engineering Research Center of Photoenergy Utilization for Pollution Control and Carbon Reduction of Ministry of Education, Institute of Applied & Environmental Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, P. R. China
| | - Jundi Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, Engineering Research Center of Photoenergy Utilization for Pollution Control and Carbon Reduction of Ministry of Education, Institute of Applied & Environmental Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, P. R. China
| | - Ziyue Chen
- Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, Engineering Research Center of Photoenergy Utilization for Pollution Control and Carbon Reduction of Ministry of Education, Institute of Applied & Environmental Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, P. R. China
| | - Hao Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, Engineering Research Center of Photoenergy Utilization for Pollution Control and Carbon Reduction of Ministry of Education, Institute of Applied & Environmental Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, P. R. China
| | - Meiqi Li
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, P. R. China
| | - Yanbiao Shi
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, P. R. China
| | - Falong Jia
- Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, Engineering Research Center of Photoenergy Utilization for Pollution Control and Carbon Reduction of Ministry of Education, Institute of Applied & Environmental Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, P. R. China
| | - Yi Huang
- Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, Engineering Research Center of Photoenergy Utilization for Pollution Control and Carbon Reduction of Ministry of Education, Institute of Applied & Environmental Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, P. R. China
| | - Lizhi Zhang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, P. R. China
| | - Zhihui Ai
- Key Laboratory of Pesticide & Chemical Biology of Ministry of Education, Engineering Research Center of Photoenergy Utilization for Pollution Control and Carbon Reduction of Ministry of Education, Institute of Applied & Environmental Chemistry, College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, P. R. China
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3
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Liang H, Zhang Y, Zhang X, Zhao E, Xue W, Nie E, Chen J, Zuo S, Zhou M. Conductivity-mediated in situ electrochemical reconstruction of CuO x for nitrate reduction to ammonia. NANOSCALE 2024; 16:13895-13904. [PMID: 38973493 DOI: 10.1039/d4nr01625d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/09/2024]
Abstract
The electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction (NO3RR) is an ideal NH3 synthesis route with ease of operation, high energy efficiency, and low environmental detriment. Electrocatalytic cathodes play a dominant role in the NO3RR. Herein, we constructed a carbon fiber paper-supported CuOx nanoarray catalyst (CP/CuOx) by an in situ electrochemical reconstruction method for NO3--to-NH3 conversion. A series of characterization techniques, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD) and in situ Raman spectroscopy, unveil that CP/CuOx is a polycrystalline-faceted composite copper nanocatalyst with a valence composition containing Cu0, Cu+ and Cu2+. CP/CuOx shows more efficient NO3--to-NH3 conversion than CP/Cu and CP/Cu2O, which indicates that the coexistence of various Cu valence states could play a dominant role. CP/CuOx with a suitable Cu2+ content obtained by adjusting the conductivity during the in situ electrochemical reconstruction process exhibited more than 90% faradaic efficiencies for the NO3RR in a broad range of -0.3 to -1.0 V vs. RHE, 28.65 mg cm-2 h-1 peak ammonia yield, and stable NO3RR efficiencies for ten cycles. These findings suggest that CP/CuOx with suitable copper valence states obtained by fine-tuning the conductivity of the electrochemical reconstruction may provide a competitive cathode catalyst for achieving excellent activity and selectivity of NO3--to-NH3 conversion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Liang
- State of Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Engineering, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, PR China.
| | - Yinqiao Zhang
- State of Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Engineering, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, PR China.
| | - Xiaona Zhang
- State of Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Engineering, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, PR China.
| | - Erzhuo Zhao
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China
| | - Wendan Xue
- Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China
| | - Enguang Nie
- College of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, PR China
| | - Jianqiu Chen
- State of Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Engineering, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, PR China.
| | - Sijin Zuo
- State of Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, School of Engineering, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, PR China.
| | - Minghua Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Process and Environmental Criteria, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, PR China
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4
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Wei J, Li Y, Lin H, Lu X, Zhou C, Li YY. Copper-based electro-catalytic nitrate reduction to ammonia from water: Mechanism, preparation, and research directions. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND ECOTECHNOLOGY 2024; 20:100383. [PMID: 38304117 PMCID: PMC10830547 DOI: 10.1016/j.ese.2023.100383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Global water bodies are increasingly imperiled by nitrate pollution, primarily originating from industrial waste, agricultural runoffs, and urban sewage. This escalating environmental crisis challenges traditional water treatment paradigms and necessitates innovative solutions. Electro-catalysis, especially utilizing copper-based catalysts, known for their efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and eco-friendliness, offer a promising avenue for the electro-catalytic reduction of nitrate to ammonia. In this review, we systematically consolidate current research on diverse copper-based catalysts, including pure Cu, Cu alloys, oxides, single-atom entities, and composites. Furthermore, we assess their catalytic performance, operational mechanisms, and future research directions to find effective, long-term solutions to water purification and ammonia synthesis. Electro-catalysis technology shows the potential in mitigating nitrate pollution and has strategic importance in sustainable environmental management. As to the application, challenges regarding complexity of the real water, the scale-up of the commerical catalysts, and the efficient collection of produced NH3 are still exist. Following reseraches of catalyst specially on long term stability and in situ mechanisms are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Chucheng Zhou
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Special Functional Materials & Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory for Advance Technology of Ceramics, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, PR China
| | - Ya-yun Li
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Special Functional Materials & Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory for Advance Technology of Ceramics, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, PR China
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5
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Yuan J, Chen X, Wang X, Guo Y, Ren L, Niu C, Li Y. A sequencing electroreduction-electrooxidation system driven by atomic hydrogen for enhancing 2,4-dichloronitrobenzene removal from wastewater. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 252:118986. [PMID: 38663671 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
The sequencing electroreduction-electrooxidation process has emerged as a promising approach for the degradation of the chloronitrobenzenes (CNBs) due to its elimination of electro-withdrawing groups in the reduction process, facilitating further removal in the subsequent oxidation process. Herein, we developed a cathode consisting of atom Pd on a Ti plate, which enabled the electro-generation of atomic hydrogen (H*) and the efficient electrocatalytic activation of H2O2 to hydroxyl radical (•OH). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) curves and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra verified the existence of H* and •OH. The electroreduction-electrooxidation system achieved 94.7% of 20 mg L-1 2,4-DCNB removal with a relatively low H2O2 addition (5 mM). Moreover, the inhibition rate of Photobacterium phosphoreum in the effluent decreased from 95% to 52% after the sequencing electroreduction-electrooxidation processes. It was further revealed that the H* dominated the electroreduction process and triggered the electrooxidation process. Our work sheds light on the effective removal of electron-withdrawing groups substituted aromatic contaminants from water and wastewater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China; Tongji Advanced Membrane Technology Center, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Xi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China; Tongji Advanced Membrane Technology Center, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Xueye Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China; Tongji Advanced Membrane Technology Center, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Yun Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China; Tongji Advanced Membrane Technology Center, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Lehui Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China; Tongji Advanced Membrane Technology Center, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Chengxin Niu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China; Tongji Advanced Membrane Technology Center, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Yang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China; Tongji Advanced Membrane Technology Center, Shanghai, 200092, China.
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6
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Yang Q, Bu Y, Pu S, Chu L, Huang W, Zhu X, Liu C, Fang G, Cui P, Zhou D, Wang Y. Matched Kinetics Process Over Fe 2O 3-Co/NiO Heterostructure Enables Highly Efficient Nitrate Electroreduction to Ammonia. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202400428. [PMID: 38291811 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202400428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2024] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Tandem nitrate electroreduction reaction (NO3 -RR) is a promising method for green ammonia (NH3) synthesis. However, the mismatched kinetics processes between NO3 --to-NO2 - and NO2 --to-NH3 results in poor selectivity for NH3 and excess NO2 - evolution in electrolyte solution. Herein, a Ni2+ substitution strategy for developing oxide heterostructure in Co/Fe layered double oxides (LDOs) was designed and employed as tandem electrocataltysts for NO3 -RR. (Co0.83Ni0.16)2Fe exhibited a high NH3 yield rate of 50.4 mg ⋅ cm-2 ⋅ h-1 with a Faradaic efficiency of 97.8 % at -0.42 V vs. reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) in a pulsed electrolysis test. By combining with in situ/operando characterization technologies and theoretical calculations, we observed the strong selectivity of NH3 evolution over (Co0.83Ni0.16)2Fe, with Ni playing a dual role in NO3 -RR by i) modifying the electronic behavior of Co, and ii) serving as complementary site for active hydrogen (*H) supply. Therefore, the adsorption capacity of *NO2 and its subsequent hydrogenation on the Co sites became more thermodynamically feasible. This study shows that Ni substitution promotes the kinetics of the NO3 -RR and provides insights into the design of tandem electrocatalysts for NH3 evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yongguang Bu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, 210023, Nanjing, China
| | - Shuailei Pu
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Longgang Chu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, 210023, Nanjing, China
| | - Weifeng Huang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qiannan Normal University for Nationalities, 558000, Duyun, China
| | - Xiangdong Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Cun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Guodong Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Peixin Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Dongmei Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, 210023, Nanjing, China
| | - Yujun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Soil and Sustainable Agriculture, Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210008, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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7
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Fang L, Lu S, Wang S, Yang X, Song C, Yin F, Liu H. Defect engineering on electrocatalysts for sustainable nitrate reduction to ammonia: Fundamentals and regulations. Chemistry 2024; 30:e202303249. [PMID: 37997008 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202303249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Electrocatalytic nitrate (NO3 -) reduction to ammonia (NH3) is a "two birds-one stone" method that targets remediation of NO3 --containing sewage and production of valuable NH3. The exploitation of advanced catalysts with high activity, selectivity, and durability is a key issue for the efficient catalytic performance. Among various strategies for catalyst design, defect engineering has gained increasing attention due to its ability to modulate the electronic properties of electrocatalysts and optimize the adsorption energy of reactive species, thereby enhancing the catalytic performance. Despite previous progress, there remains a lack of mechanistic insights into the regulation of catalyst defects for NO3 - reduction. Herein, this review presents insightful understanding of defect engineering for NO3 - reduction, covering its background, definition, classification, construction, and underlying mechanisms. Moreover, the relationships between regulation of catalyst defects and their catalytic activities are illustrated by investigating the properties of electrocatalysts through the analysis of electronic band structure, charge density distribution, and controllable adsorption energy. Furthermore, challenges and perspectives for future development of defects in NO3RR are also discussed, which can help researchers to better understand the defect engineering in catalysts, and also inspire scientists entering into this promising field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Fang
- Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1400714, Chongqing, China
| | - Shun Lu
- Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1400714, Chongqing, China
| | - Sha Wang
- Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1400714, Chongqing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaohui Yang
- Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1400714, Chongqing, China
| | - Cheng Song
- Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1400714, Chongqing, China
| | - Fengjun Yin
- Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1400714, Chongqing, China
| | - Hong Liu
- Chongqing Institute of Green and Intelligent Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1400714, Chongqing, China
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8
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Pan M, Li C, Wei X, Liu G, Ang EH, Pan B. Pioneering Piezoelectric-Driven Atomic Hydrogen for Efficient Dehalogenation of Halogenated Organic Pollutants. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:4008-4018. [PMID: 38347702 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c09579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
The electrocatalytic hydrodehalogenation (EHDH) process mediated by atomic hydrogen (H*) is recognized as an efficient method for degrading halogenated organic pollutants (HOPs). However, a significant challenge is the excessive energy consumption resulting from the recombination of H* to H2 production in the EHDH process. In this study, a promising strategy was proposed to generate piezo-induced atomic H*, without external energy input or chemical consumption, for the degradation and dehalogenation of HOPs. Specifically, sub-5 nm Ni nanoparticles were subtly dotted on an N-doped carbon layer coating on BaTiO3 cube, and the resulted hybrid nanocomposite (Ni-NC@BTO) can effectively break C-X (X = Cl and F) bonds under ultrasonic vibration or mechanical stirring, demonstrating high piezoelectric driven dehalogenation efficiencies toward various HOPs. Mechanistic studies revealed that the dotted Ni nanoparticles can efficiently capture H* to form Ni-H* (Habs) and drive the dehalogenation process to lower the toxicity of intermediates. COMSOL simulations confirmed a "chimney effect" on the interface of Ni nanoparticle, which facilitated the accumulation of H+ and enhanced electron transfer for H* formation by improving the surface charge of the piezocatalyst and strengthening the interfacial electric field. Our work introduces an environmentally friendly dehalogenation method for HOPs using the piezoelectric process independent of the external energy input and chemical consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meilan Pan
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China
| | - Cong Li
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China
| | - Xiuzhen Wei
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China
| | - Guanyu Liu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 201804, China
| | - Edison Huixiang Ang
- Natural Sciences and Science Education, National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637616, Singapore
| | - Bingjun Pan
- College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China
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9
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Wang Y, Ji Z, Pei Y. Highly selective electrochemical reduction of nitrate via CoO/Ir-nickel foam cathode to treat wastewater with a low C/N ratio. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 463:132813. [PMID: 37918076 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Thorough nitrate removal from reclaimed water by biological techniques without carbon sources is difficult. Flexible, controllable electrochemical nitrate reduction is widely researched. Herein, ultrathin CoO nanosheets were constructed through amino group induction and orientation. The interfacial electron transfer resistance of two-dimensional CoO was 43.4% lower than that of one-dimensional nanoparticles, resulting in higher current density and improved nitrate reduction efficiency. Nickel foam and IrO2-nickel foam electrodes have almost no effect on nitrate reduction. It is worth noting that iridium loading on CoO (nanosheet) regulated the electronic band structure and generated active atomic H* . The nitrate removal rate increased from 45.1% (CoO (nanoparticle)-nickle foam) and 63.8% (CoO (nanosheet)-nickle foam) to 94.64% (CoO/Ir10 wt%-nickle foam). The proton enhancement effect improved indirect nitrate reduction by atomic H* and increased the NO3--N removal rate to 99.8%. Active chlorine species generated by Cl- in the wastewater selectively converted more than 99% of nitrate to N2, exceeding previous Co-based cathode results. In situ DEMS indicated that electrochemical reduction of nitrate included deoxidation (NO3-→*NO2-→*NO→*N/*N2O→N2) and hydrogenation (*NH2→*NH3→NH4+). The NO3--N removal rate of CoO/Ir10 wt% exceeded 65% during treatment of wastewater treatment plant effluents, verifying the feasibility of electrochemical nitrate reduction with the CoO/Ir10 wt% cathode. A strategy for designing electrochemical nitrate reduction electrocatalysts with excellent potential for full-scale application to treat wastewater treatment plant effluent is provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youke Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, No. 19, Xinjiekouwai Street, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Zehua Ji
- Center for Water and Ecology, State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yuansheng Pei
- The Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, No. 19, Xinjiekouwai Street, Beijing 100875, China.
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10
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Zheng Y, Ren Y, Yang J, Huang Y, Liu Y. Rational design of electrocatalytic system to selective transform nitrate to nitrogen. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 341:140016. [PMID: 37652250 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
Nitrate (NO3-) is one of the most common pollutants in natural bodies of water and as such threatens both human health and the safety of aquatic environment. There are efficient electrochemical techniques to directly remove NO3-, but inexpensive, selective and electrocatalytic strategies to eliminate NO3- by converting it into benign nitrogen (N2) remain challenging. This work studied Cu particles that were formed directly on a Ni foam (Cu-NF) and evaluated their electrocatalytic NO3- reduction performance. The use of carbon nanotubes (CNT) functionalized with titanium suboxides (TiSO) as the anode facilitated the generation of active chlorine species that had a key role in the removal of NH4+. An electrochemical system that integrated a Cu-NF cathode with a TiSO-CNT anode could remove 88.5% of NO3- with a >99% N2 selectivity when operated over 6 h (4.1 × 10-4 h-1) at a potential of -1.2 V vs Ag/AgCl. Because the chloride ions are very common in natural sources of water, this technique offers a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach for the removal of NO3- from contaminated water sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiqing Zheng
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China
| | - Yifan Ren
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China
| | - Jianping Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, 2999 North Renmin Road, Shanghai, 201620, China
| | - Yingping Huang
- Engineering Research Center of Eco-environment in Three Gorges Reservoir Region, Ministry of Education, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, 443002, China
| | - Yanbiao Liu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China.
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11
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Liu Z, Shen F, Shi L, Tong Q, Tang M, Li Y, Peng M, Jiao Z, Jiang Y, Ao L, Fu W, Lv X, Jiang G, Hou L. Electronic Structure Optimization and Proton-Transfer Enhancement on Titanium Oxide-Supported Copper Nanoparticles for Enhanced Nitrogen Recycling from Nitrate-Contaminated Water. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023. [PMID: 37364020 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c03431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate to NH3 (NO3RR) on Cu offers sustainable NH3 production and nitrogen recycling from nitrate-contaminated water. However, Cu affords limited NO3RR activity owing to its unfavorable electronic state and the slow proton transfer on its surface, especially in neutral/alkaline media. Furthermore, although a synchronous "NO3RR and NH3 collection" system has been developed for nitrogen recycling from nitrate-laden water, no system is designed for natural water that generally contains low-concentration nitrate. Herein, we demonstrate that depositing Cu nanoparticles on a TiO2 support enables the formation of electron-deficient Cuδ+ species (0 < δ ≤ 2), which are more active than Cu0 in NO3RR. Furthermore, TiO2-Cu coupling induces local electric-field enhancement that intensifies water adsorption/dissociation at the interface, accelerating proton transfer for NO3RR on Cu. With the dual enhancements, TiO2-Cu delivers an NH3-N selectivity of 90.5%, mass activity of 41.4 mg-N h gCu-1, specific activity of 377.8 mg-N h-1 m-2, and minimal Cu leaching (<25.4 μg L-1) when treating 22.5 mg L-1 of NO3--N at -0.40 V, outperforming most of the reported Cu-based catalysts. A sequential NO3RR and NH3 collection system based on TiO2-Cu was then proposed, which could recycle nitrogen from nitrate-contaminated water under a wide concentration window of 22.5-112.5 mg L-1 at a rate of 209-630 mgN m-2 h-1. We also demonstrated this system could collect 83.9% of nitrogen from NO3--N (19.3 mg L-1) in natural lake water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zixun Liu
- Engineering Research Center for Waste Oil Recovery Technology and Equipment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing 400067, China
| | - Fei Shen
- Engineering Research Center for Waste Oil Recovery Technology and Equipment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing 400067, China
| | - Li Shi
- Engineering Research Center for Waste Oil Recovery Technology and Equipment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing 400067, China
| | - Qiuwen Tong
- Engineering Research Center for Waste Oil Recovery Technology and Equipment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing 400067, China
| | - Mu'e Tang
- Engineering Research Center for Waste Oil Recovery Technology and Equipment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing 400067, China
| | - Yiming Li
- Engineering Research Center for Waste Oil Recovery Technology and Equipment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing 400067, China
| | - Min Peng
- Engineering Research Center for Waste Oil Recovery Technology and Equipment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing 400067, China
| | - Zhaojie Jiao
- Engineering Research Center for Waste Oil Recovery Technology and Equipment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing 400067, China
| | - Yan Jiang
- Engineering Research Center for Waste Oil Recovery Technology and Equipment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing 400067, China
| | - Liang Ao
- Chongqing Academy of Eco-Environmental Science, Chongqing 400700, China
- Chongqing Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources, Chongqing 400700, China
| | - Wenyang Fu
- Engineering Research Center for Waste Oil Recovery Technology and Equipment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing 400067, China
| | - Xiaoshu Lv
- Engineering Research Center for Waste Oil Recovery Technology and Equipment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing 400067, China
| | - Guangming Jiang
- Engineering Research Center for Waste Oil Recovery Technology and Equipment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing 400067, China
- Chongqing Academy of Eco-Environmental Science, Chongqing 400700, China
- Chongqing Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources, Chongqing 400700, China
| | - Li'an Hou
- High Tech Inst Beijing, Beijing 100000, China
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12
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Zhu D, Li G, Yan X, Geng C, Gao L. Electrochemical nitrate reduction to high-value ammonia on two-dimensional molybdenum carbide nanosheets for nitrate-containing wastewater upcycling. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 878:163145. [PMID: 37001674 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Electrochemical conversion of nitrate wastewater into high-value ammonia fertilizer has attracted extensive attention in wastewater treatment and resource recovery, but presents great challenges due to complicated reaction pathways and competing side reactions. Herein, we report a feasible method for the successful fabrication of Mo2C nanosheets (Mo2C NSs) as electrocatalyst for the electroreduction of nitrate to ammonia. Compared to Mo2C nanoparticles, the Mo2C NSs exhibited superior activity and selectivity in NH3 electrosynthesis with an NH3 yield rate of 25.2 mg·h-1·mg-1cat. at -0.4 V and a Faradaic efficiency of 81.4 % at -0.3 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode. The X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy characterization verifted the controllable conversion of 2D MoO2 NSs into 2D Mo2C NSs. In situ spectroscopic studies and on-line differential electrochemical mass spectrometry revealed the proposed reaction pathway of NO3- to NH3 conversion, *NO3- → *NO2- → *NO→*NOH → *NH2OH → *NH3. Density functional theory calculations further verified the effective N-end NOH pathway with the conversion of *NH2OH to *NH2 as the rate-determining step requiring a low energy barrier of 0.58 eV. Importantly, the key hydrogenation of *NO to form *NOH species underwent a lower energy barrier of 0.39 eV compared with the formation of *ONH species (1.06 eV).
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Affiliation(s)
- Donglin Zhu
- School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Guoguang Li
- School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Xu Yan
- Huizhou Innovation Research Institute of Next Generation Industrial Internet, Huizhou 516006, PR China
| | - Chunxia Geng
- Beijing Water Planning Institute, Beijing 100089, PR China
| | - Li Gao
- Institute for Sustainable Industries and Liveable Cities, Victoria University, PO Box 14428, Melbourne, Victoria 8001, Australia.
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13
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Wang Y, Xiao Y, Wang Y, Lin Q, Zhu Y, Ni Z, Qiu R. Electroreductive Defluorination of Unsaturated PFAS by a Quaternary Ammonium Surfactant-Modified Cathode via Direct Cathodic Reduction. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:7578-7589. [PMID: 37116179 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c08182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Remediation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in groundwater remains a technological challenge due to the trace concentrations of PFAS and the strength of their C-F bonds. This study investigated an electroreductive system with a quaternary ammonium surfactant-modified cathode for degrading (E)-perfluoro(4-methylpent-2-enoic acid) (PFMeUPA) at a low cathodic potential. A removal efficiency of 99.81% and defluorination efficiency of 78.67% were achieved under -1.6 V (vs Ag/AgCl) at the cathode modified by octadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (OTAB). The overall degradation procedure started with the adsorption of PFMeUPA onto the modified cathode. This adsorption process was promoted by hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions between the surfactants and PFMeUPA, of which the binding percentage, binding mode, and binding energy were determined via molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The step-wise degradation pathway of PFMeUPA, including reductive defluorination and hydrogenation, was derived. Meanwhile, C-F bond breaking with direct electron transfer only was achieved for the first time in this study, which also showed that the C═C bond structure of PFAS facilitates the C-F cleavage. Overall, this study highlights the crucial role of quaternary ammonium surfactants in electron transfer and electrocatalytic activities in the electroreductive system and provides insights into novel remediation approaches on PFAS-contaminated groundwater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Ye Xiao
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yafei Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Qingqi Lin
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural & Rural Pollution Abatement and Environmental Safety, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Yanping Zhu
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural & Rural Pollution Abatement and Environmental Safety, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Zhuobiao Ni
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural & Rural Pollution Abatement and Environmental Safety, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Rongliang Qiu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
- Guangdong Laboratory for Lingnan Modern Agriculture, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agricultural & Rural Pollution Abatement and Environmental Safety, College of Natural Resources and Environment, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
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14
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Guo Y, Li Y, Wang Z. Electrocatalytic hydro-dehalogenation of halogenated organic pollutants from wastewater: A critical review. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 234:119810. [PMID: 36889094 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.119810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Halogenated organic pollutants are often found in wastewater effluent although it has been usually treated by advanced oxidation processes. Atomic hydrogen (H*)-mediated electrocatalytic dehalogenation, with an outperformed performance for breaking the strong carbon-halogen bonds, is of increasing significance for the efficient removal of halogenated organic compounds from water and wastewater. This review consolidates the recent advances in the electrocatalytic hydro-dehalogenation of toxic halogenated organic pollutants from contaminated water. The effect of the molecular structure (e.g., the number and type of halogens, electron-donating or electron-withdrawing groups) on dehalogenation reactivity is firstly predicted, revealing the nucleophilic properties of the existing halogenated organic pollutants. The specific contribution of the direct electron transfer and atomic hydrogen (H*)-mediated indirect electron transfer to dehalogenation efficiency has been established, aiming to better understand the dehalogenation mechanisms. The analyses of entropy and enthalpy illustrate that low pH has a lower energy barrier than that of high pH, facilitating the transformation from proton to H*. Furthermore, the quantitative relationship between dehalogenation efficiency and energy consumption shows an exponential increase of energy consumption for dehalogenation efficiency increasing from 90% to 100%. Lastly, challenges and perspectives are discussed for efficient dehalogenation and practical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Tongji Advanced Membrane Technology Center, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Yang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Tongji Advanced Membrane Technology Center, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Zhiwei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Tongji Advanced Membrane Technology Center, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China.
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15
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Wang H, Huang J, Cai J, Wei Y, Cao A, Liu B, Lu S. In Situ/Operando Methods for Understanding Electrocatalytic Nitrate Reduction Reaction. SMALL METHODS 2023:e2300169. [PMID: 37035954 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202300169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
With the development of industrial and agricultural, a large amount of nitrate is produced, which not only disrupts the natural nitrogen cycle, but also endangers public health. Among the commonly used nitrate treatment techniques, the electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction (eNRR) has attracted extensive attention due to its mild conditions, pollution-free nature, and other advantages. An in-depth understanding of the eNRR mechanism is the prerequisite for designing highly efficient electrocatalysts. However, some traditional characterization tools cannot comprehensively and deeply study the reaction process. It is necessary to develop in situ and operando techniques to reveal the reaction mechanism at the time-resolved and atomic level. This review discusses the eNRR mechanism and summarizes the possible in situ techniques used in eNRR. A detailed introduction of various in situ techniques and their help in understanding the reaction mechanism is provided. Finally, the current challenges and future opportunities in this research area are discussed and highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huimin Wang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, 454000, China
- Green Catalysis Center, and College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Jingjing Huang
- Green Catalysis Center, and College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Jinmeng Cai
- Green Catalysis Center, and College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Yingying Wei
- Green Catalysis Center, and College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
| | - Ang Cao
- Department of Physics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, 2800, Denmark
| | - Baozhong Liu
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo, 454000, China
| | - Siyu Lu
- Green Catalysis Center, and College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China
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16
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Yuan S, Xue Y, Ma R, Ma Q, Chen Y, Fan J. Advances in iron-based electrocatalysts for nitrate reduction. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 866:161444. [PMID: 36621470 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Excessive nitrate has been a critical issue in the water environment, originating from the burning of fossil fuels, inefficient use of nitrogen fertilizers, and discharge of domestic and industrial wastewater. Among the effective treatments for nitrate reduction, electrocatalysis has become an advanced technique because it uses electrons as green reducing agents and can achieve high selectivity through cathode potential control. The effectiveness of electrocatalytic nitrate reduction (NO3RR) mainly lies in the electrocatalyst. Iron-based catalysts have the advantages of high activity and low cost, which are well-used in the field of electrocatalytic nitrates. A comprehensive overview of the electrocatalytic mechanism and the iron-based materials for NO3RR are given in terms of monometallic iron-based materials as well as bimetallic and oxide iron-based materials. A detailed introduction to NO3RR on zero valent iron, single-atom iron catalysts, and Cu/Fe-based bimetallic electrocatalysts are provided, as they are essential for the improvement of NO3RR performance. Finally, the advantages of iron-based materials for NO3RR and the problems in current applications are summarized, and the development prospects of efficient iron-based catalysts are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiyin Yuan
- State key laboratory of pollution control and Resource reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Yinghao Xue
- State key laboratory of pollution control and Resource reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Raner Ma
- State key laboratory of pollution control and Resource reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Qian Ma
- State key laboratory of pollution control and Resource reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Yanyan Chen
- State key laboratory of pollution control and Resource reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Jianwei Fan
- State key laboratory of pollution control and Resource reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China.
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17
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Li Y, Mao X, Chen C, Zhang L, Liu W, Wang X, He L, Xu T. Highly Selective Reduction of Nitrate by Zero-Valent Aluminum (ZVAI) Ball-Milled Materials at Circumneutral pH: Important Role of Microgalvanic Cells for Depassivation of ZVAl and N 2-Selectivity. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:4568-4577. [PMID: 36848326 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c09727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The passivation of zero-valent aluminum (ZVAl) limits its application in environmental remediation. Herein, a ternary composite material Al-Fe-AC is synthesized via a ball-milling treatment on a mixture of Al0, Fe0, and activated carbon (AC) powders. The results show that the as-prepared micronsized Al-Fe-AC powder could achieve highly efficient nitrate removal and a nitrogen (N2)-selectivity of >75%. The mechanism study reveals that, in the initial stage, numerous Al//AC and Fe//AC microgalvanic cells in the Al-Fe-AC material could lead to a local alkaline environment in the vicinity of the AC cathodes. The local alkalinity depassivated the Al0 component and enabled its continuous dissolution in the subsequent second stage of reaction. The functioning of the AC cathode of the Al//AC microgalvanic cell is revealed as the primary reason accounting for the highly selective reduction of nitrate. The investigation on the mass ratio of raw materials manifested that an Al/Fe/AC mass ratio of 1:1:5 or 1:3:5 was preferable. The test in simulated groundwater suggested that the as-prepared Al-Fe-AC powder could be injected into aquifers to achieve a highly selective reduction of nitrate to nitrogen. This study provides a feasible method to develop high-performance ZVAl-based remedial materials that could work in a wider pH range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Li
- School of Resources and Environmental Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Xuhui Mao
- School of Resources and Environmental Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Chaoqi Chen
- School of Resources and Environmental Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Lieyu Zhang
- Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Wenjie Liu
- School of Resources and Environmental Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China
- Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Xu Wang
- School of Resources and Environmental Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China
| | - Lang He
- Department of Earth and Environment, Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17604-3003, United States
| | - Tao Xu
- School of Resources and Environmental Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430079, China
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18
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Li Y, Ren L, Wang T, Wu Z, Wang Z. Efficient removal of bromate from contaminated water using electrochemical membrane filtration with metal heteroatom interface. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 446:130688. [PMID: 36608582 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Efficient utilization of atomic hydrogen (H*) is of great importance for achieving efficient bromate reduction using electrochemical technologies. Herein, an electrochemical membrane with metal heteroatom interface of Ru and Ni was developed to enhance the utilization efficiency of H* via the membrane filtration process. The RuNi membrane demonstrated 91.3% of bromate removal at 5 mA cm-2 under the flow-through operation (40 L m-2 h-1). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) curves and electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra elucidated that the bromate reduction was mainly attributed to H* -mediated reduction rather than the direct electron transfer between bromate and RuNi active layer. The quenching experiments revealed a significant contribution of adsorbed H* to the bromate removal during the membrane filtration. Based on X-ray photoelectron spectrometry and X-ray diffraction analyses, we found that the resultant Ru0Ni0 structure on the electrochemical membrane could facilitate the generation of H* during the bromate reduction reaction. Besides, the higher pH might suppress the formation of H* and increase the energy barrier for breaking the Br-O bond, resulting in dramatic increase of energy consumption for removing bromate. Our work highlights the potential of utilizing H* in electrochemical membrane for removing bromate in water treatment and remediation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Tongji Advanced Membrane Technology Center, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Lehui Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Tongji Advanced Membrane Technology Center, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Tianlin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Tongji Advanced Membrane Technology Center, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Zhichao Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Tongji Advanced Membrane Technology Center, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Zhiwei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Tongji Advanced Membrane Technology Center, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China.
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19
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Ren Y, Zheng W, Li S, Liu Y. Atomic H*-mediated electrochemical removal of low concentration antimonite and recovery of antimony from water. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 445:130520. [PMID: 36462238 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.130520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Compounds containing antimony (Sb) are broadly used as starting materials for a wide range of industrial products, leading to serious water pollution associated with Sb rock mining as well as Sb leaching. Herein, we proposed an innovative design of an electrified membrane consisted of bimetallic palladium and iron nanoparticles (Pd-Fe NPs) supported on conductive carbon nanotube (CNT) networks. The nanohybrid filter enabled effective generation and retainment of atomic hydrogen (H*) under an electric field, which further contributed to the complete electroreduction of antimonite (Sb(III)). The highest atomic H* yield and Sb(III) removal kinetics were identified once a potential of -1.0 V vs. Ag/AgCl was exerted. Compared to the pristine CNT, Pd-CNT and Fe-CNT filters, the reaction rate constant of the Pd/Fe-CNT filter was increased 5.15-, 2.39-, and 1.76-fold, respectively for electrochemical removal of Sb(III). The results denoted that the superior performance of the Pd/Fe-CNT nanohybrid filter originated from: (1) the flow-through design, which enhanced mass transport, (2) the bimetallic design, which increased the catalytic activity, and (3) the collective contribution from atomic H*-mediated indirect reduction and direct electron transfer reduction mechanisms. The robust system performance occurred over a broad range of pH values, a variety of water matrices and can withstand several cycles of experiments. Our findings highlight an effective electro-filtration strategy to induce atomic H*-mediated electrochemical removal and recovery of Sb from water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Ren
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, 2999 North Renmin Road, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Wentian Zheng
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, 2999 North Renmin Road, Shanghai 201620, China
| | - Shuo Li
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qiqihar University, Qiqihar 161006, China.
| | - Yanbiao Liu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, 2999 North Renmin Road, Shanghai 201620, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China.
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20
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Pd-Cu Modified Cerium Oxide Catalysts for Selectively Electrocatalytic Denitrification: Significant Roles of Oxygen Vacancies and Activated Hydrogen. Sep Purif Technol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2022.122606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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21
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Zheng W, Liu Y, Liu F, Wang Y, Ren N, You S. Atomic Hydrogen in Electrocatalytic Systems: Generation, Identification, and Environmental Applications. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 223:118994. [PMID: 36007400 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Electrochemical reduction has emerged as a viable technology for the removal of a variety of organic contaminants from water. Atomic hydrogen (H*) is the primary species generated in electrochemical reduction processes. In this work, identification and quantification for H* are reviewed with a focus on methods used to generate H* at different positions. Additionally, we present recently developed proposals for the surface chemistry mechanisms of H* on the most commonly used cathodes as well as the use of H* in standard electrochemical reactors. The proposed reaction pathways in different H* systems for environmental applications are also discussed in detail. As shown in this review, the key hurdles facing H* reduction technologies are related to i) the establishment of systematic and practical synthetic methods; ii) the development of effective identification approaches with high specificity; and, iii) an in-depth exploration of the H* reaction mechanism to better understand the reaction process of H*.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wentian Zheng
- Textile Pollution Controlling Engineering Center of Ministry of Environmental Protection, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China
| | - Yanbiao Liu
- Textile Pollution Controlling Engineering Center of Ministry of Environmental Protection, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China.
| | - Fuqiang Liu
- Textile Pollution Controlling Engineering Center of Ministry of Environmental Protection, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai, 200092, China; State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Nanqi Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Shijie You
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
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