Effective chromium mitigation using phosphorous doped bio carbon electrode via capacitive deionisation.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry

Background:

• Capacitive deionization (CDI) is a sustainable technology for water reclamation.
• Biomass-derived carbon electrodes offer economic feasibility and sustainability.
• Improving electrochemical performance of biomass-derived electrodes is crucial for durability and reusability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop rice straw-derived, phosphorus-doped (P-doped) carbon as an electrode material for Cr(VI) ion mitigation.
• To investigate the effect of phosphorus doping on the electrochemical properties of biocarbon electrodes.
• To evaluate the performance of P-doped carbon electrodes in CDI for Cr(VI) removal.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of P-doped carbon from rice straw using phosphoric acid for activation and doping.
• Characterization of the synthesized material using FESEM-EDX and surface area analysis.
• Electrochemical performance evaluation using cyclic voltammetry and CDI experiments with optimized parameters.

Main Results:

• P-doped carbon exhibited enhanced pore distribution, increased electrical conductivity, and improved charge storage capacity.
• The synthesized electrode material possessed an enhanced surface area of 753 m²/g.
• Specific capacitance for Cr(VI) ions was 67 F/g, 15 times higher than non-doped carbon.
• Efficient Cr(VI) ion mitigation was achieved at pH 2 and 2V applied voltage in CDI.
• Experimental data fitted pseudo-first-order kinetics, indicating physisorption.

Conclusions:

• Rice straw-derived P-doped carbon is a promising electrode material for efficient Cr(VI) removal via CDI.
• Phosphorus doping significantly enhances the electrochemical properties and ion adsorption capabilities of biocarbon electrodes.
• The developed electrode shows potential for real-time application in treating industrial wastewater, with scope for further optimization.