E-Fenton degradation of MB during filtration with Gr/PPy modified membrane cathode

The integration of two or more conventional technologies has been proved effective in enhancing water treatment efficiency. E-Fenton degradation of pollutants by conductive functionalized polymer membrane cathode is rare. In this study, a novel conductive membrane/electrode was prepared by modifying a polyester filter cloth/fabric membrane with impregnated graphene (Gr) and coated polypyrrole (PPy) via the vapor phase polymerization method (VPM). The composite membrane has uniformly coated and firmly attached Gr/PPy, it is highly conductive, of low electric resistance. When it was used as the cathode for removing Methylene Blue (MB) by E-Fenton reactions under membrane filtration mode, with stainless iron mesh as the anode, the parameters affecting the E-Fenton reaction were investigated. It was found that appropriate aeration, pH value, membrane flux and electric field strength all affected the cathodic membrane performance in E-Fenton system. MB, the target pollutant, was significantly degraded by the in situ generated hydrogen peroxide, and the combined function of membrane and catalysis on pollutants makes the effect even better. The membrane cathode was stable and its performance was further promoted by doping with AQS (anthraquionone monosulfate), which enabled more effective integration of membrane with electro-catalysis. (c) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.