A novel electrocatalytic approach for effective degradation of Rh-B in water using carbon nanotubes and agarose

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs)/agarose (AG) membrane on the ITO (indium tin oxide) conductive glass, with high efficiency of electrocatalytic degradation for rhodamine B (Rh-B) in water, was prepared using an easy and green method. The prepared CNTs/AG membrane was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectra (EDS), infrared spectroscopy (IR), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The results revealed that CNTs were dispersed in the AG membrane. Additionally, the electrocatalytic activities for Rh-B were conducted on the electrochemical workstation with a three-electrode system. Both initial pH and potential played an important role in the process of electrocatalytic degradation. At pH 3 and potential reaching 4 V, the removal rate of Rh-B (10 mg/L) in water achieved 96% within 20 min. The stability of the prepared CNTs/AG membrane was also investigated. Besides, the toxicities of the main intermediates from the electrocatalytic degradation for Rh-B were calculated using the ECOSAR program and EPIWIN software, and results indicated that the toxicities of some intermediates were higher than those of the parent pollutant (Rh-B). These findings provided a light-spot to simplify the preparation of efficient working electrode and emphasized the possible potential risks from intermediates at the same time.