Achieving high performance for electrocatalytic dechlorination with magnetic Pd/CoFe2O4 particle electrodes

Moveable catalysts in a three-dimensional (3D) electrochemical reactor offer benefits for pollutant dechlorination because of increased active sites and mass transfer, but they suffer from difficulties in catalyst recovery. Herein, we demonstrate that magnetic Pd/CoFe(2)O(4 )catalysts are highly active, durable, and recyclable when used in the electrochemical dechlorination of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP). Highly dispersed nano-sized Pd/CoFe(2)O(4 )catalysts were successfully synthesized using an easy chemical deposition method. Tests on the effects of the initial solution pH showed that the alkaline condition was favorable for achieving increased dechlorination performance in terms of increased reaction rate and higher current efficiency. Greater amounts of surface-adsorbed atomic H (H-ads*) formed and Pd with an electron-rich state as a consequence of metal-support interaction under the alkaline condition may play important roles in the effectiveness. The Pd/CoFe2O4 particle electrodes in the 3D reactor were effective in removing 2,4-DCP with different concentrations. Notably, at a current density of 2.50 mA cm(-2), 200 mg L-1 2,4-DCP can be dechlorinated to phenol within 30 min with current efficiency of 64.4%. The findings demonstrate that magnetic Pd/CoFe2O4 catalysts hold distinct promise for application in the 3D electrochemical dechlorination process.

Automated summary

The use of magnetic Pd/CoFe2O4 catalysts in a 3D electrochemical reactor for dechlorination of 2,4-dichlorophenol has shown high activity, durability, and recyclability under alkaline conditions, offering a promising solution for efficient pollutant removal.