Quasi-MOF derivative-based electrode for efficient electro-Fenton oxidation

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Environmental Chemistry
• Electrochemistry

Background:

• Developing efficient materials for organic pollutant degradation is crucial.
• Electro-Fenton (EF) processes offer a promising method for pollutant removal.
• Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) show potential in EF applications but require further optimization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate a novel quasi-MOF derivative-based electrode for enhanced electro-Fenton degradation of organic pollutants.
• To investigate the effect of a controlled pyrolysis approach on electrode performance.
• To explore the reaction mechanism and degradation pathway for p-nitrophenol removal.

Main Methods:

• A controlled pyrolysis approach was used to pyrolyze MIL-101(Fe) anchored on polyaniline-modified carbon fiber paper at 400°C.
• The fabricated electrode was utilized as the cathode in an electro-Fenton system.
• Performance was evaluated by measuring the removal of p-nitrophenol and total organic carbon.

Main Results:

• The pyrolyzed electrode exhibited enhanced electro-Fenton activity due to accessible Fe-O sites and in-situ generated Fe3O4 nanoparticles coated with carbon layers.
• 100% removal of 50 mg L-1 p-nitrophenol and 52% total organic carbon removal were achieved in 120 minutes.
• The electrode demonstrated improved stability, maintaining high performance over ten cycles, with efficient mineralization and reduced energy consumption.

Conclusions:

• The controlled pyrolysis strategy effectively produced a robust quasi-MOF derivative-based electrode for efficient organic pollutant degradation.
• The developed electrode offers a promising solution for electro-Fenton remediation with high efficiency and stability.
• This pyrolysis strategy can serve as a model for designing advanced electrodes in environmental remediation.