Efficient electrocatalytic nitrate reduction in neutral medium by Cu/CoP/NF composite cathode coupled with Ir-Ru/Ti...

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Nitrate contamination in surface water poses significant environmental and health risks.
• Effective removal of nitrate is crucial for maintaining water quality and complying with environmental regulations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel cathode material for electrochemical nitrate removal.
• To investigate the performance and influencing factors of the developed system for surface water treatment.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a three-dimensional self-supporting copper/cobalt phosphide/nickel foam (Co/CoP/NF) composite cathode.
• Electrochemical nitrate removal experiments using the Co/CoP/NF cathode and an Ir-Ru/Ti anode.
• Assessment of operating parameters including pH, current density, initial nitrate concentration, and chloride presence.
• Analysis of removal efficiency, nitrogen selectivity, and long-term stability.

Main Results:

• The Co/CoP/NF composite demonstrated high efficiency for electrochemical nitrate reduction, enhanced by Cu nanoparticles.
• Optimized conditions resulted in ca. 100% nitrate removal efficiency and 98.8% nitrogen selectivity within 210 minutes.
• The system exhibited excellent long-term stability with >94.0% removal efficiency after 24.5 hours.
• Treated actual surface water met the Chinese Ⅳ-level standard for total nitrogen (<1.5 mg L⁻¹).

Conclusions:

• The developed Co/CoP/NF composite is a highly effective cathode for electrochemical nitrate removal from surface water.
• Synergistic effects between Cu and CoP enhance catalytic activity, while chloride oxidation aids ammonium removal.
• The technology shows promise for practical application in water purification and environmental remediation.