Spinel CuxCo1-xMn2O4 electrode for effectively cleaning organic wastewater via electrocatalytic oxidation

Development of anodes with high electrocatalytic activity, electrochemical stability and low cost is a key to clean organic wastewater via electrocatalytic oxidation. Here, spinel CuxCo1-xMn2O4 (CCM-X) was prepared by introducing copper with high catalytic activity into the structurally stable spinel CoMn2O4. The CCM-X were coated on the surface of titanium plate and used as anodes to study their electrocatalytic oxidation performance for cleaning simulated organic wastewater (tetracycline hydrochloride aqueous solution). The maximum removal ratio of 20 mg L-1 tetracycline hydrochloride was 91.3% in 120 min and still reached 84.9% after 5-times' reusing of the anode, which was attributed to the high electrocatalytic activity, oxygen evolution potential (1.70 V vs. Ag/AgCl) and stable structure of multi-metal oxide CCM-X anode. In addition, free radical trapping experiments showed that hydroxyl radicals played a major role in electrocatalytic oxidation process. Electrochemical tests showed that redox of Co(III)/Co(IV) and Mn(III)/Mn(IV) participated in the electrocatalytic oxidation reaction, and doping Cu can effectively improve the electron transfer ability and electrocatalytic activity of CCM-X. Therefore, CCM-X/Ti electrodes perform attractive application prospects in cleaning organic wastewater via electrocatalytic oxidation.

Automated summary

The development of anodes with high catalytic activity is crucial for the electrocatalytic oxidation process of cleaning organic wastewater. The study showed that the newly developed CuxCo1-xMn2O4 (CCM-X) anodes with high electrocatalytic activity and stability demonstrated effective removal of tetracycline hydrochloride from simulated organic wastewater. Doping copper into the stable spinel CoMn2O4 structure improved the electron transfer ability and overall performance of CCM-X electrodes.