High-performance carbon black electrode for oxygen reduction reaction and oxidation of atrazine by electro-Fenton process

The aim of this study is to produce an electrode that can be used in H2O2 production and Electro-Fenton (EF) process by an effective, cheap, and easy method. For this reason, a superhydrophobic electrode with a higher PTFE ratio and high thickness was produced with a simple press. The produced electrode was used in the production of H2O2 and mineralization of Atrazine. First, the effect of pH, cathode voltage, and operation time on H2O2 production was evaluated. The maximum H2O2 concentration (409 mg/L), the highest current efficiency (99.80%), and the lowest electrical energy consumption (3.16 kWh/kg) were obtained at 0.8 V, 7.0 of pH, and 120 min, and the stability of the electrode was evaluated up to 720 min. Then, the effects of the operational conditions (pH, cathode voltage, operating time, and catalyst concentration) in electro-Fenton were evaluated. The fastest degradation of Atrazine (>99%) was obtained at 2.0 V, 3.0 of pH, and 0.3 mM of Fe2+ in 15 min. In the final part of the study, the degradation intermediates were identified, and the characterization of the electrode was evaluated by SEM, XRD, FT-IR, tensiometer, potentiostat, and elemental analyzer.

Automated summary

This study aimed to produce an electrode for H2O2 production and Electro-Fenton process using an effective, cheap, and simple method. The superhydrophobic electrode demonstrated high performance in H2O2 production and Atrazine mineralization under optimized operational conditions. The electrode stability and catalytic effects were also evaluated, showcasing its potential for practical applications.