Study on the efficient removal of pollutants from aquatic environments using electroactivated peracetic acid:...

Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) based on peracetic acid (PAA) generate highly reactive organic radical (R-O^•), which possess strong oxidative capacity and selectivity, making them promising for wastewater treatment. However, sustaining catalytic activity and efficiently generating CH₃C(O)O^• radical during PAA activation remain key challenges. To address this, this study designed a green energy electrochemical process to promote PAA activation (E-PAA system), and conducted a comprehensive investigation. First, operational parameters of the E-PAA system were optimized from multiple aspects, demonstrating its effective degradation performance in dye, antibiotic and algal pollutant models. Second, the degradation driving forces of the E-PAA system were elucidated, including non-radical pathways and radical pathways, with CH₃C(O)O^• as the dominant radical. Notably, the combined validation of an electrochemical workstation and compartmentalized electrolytic cell experiments, the cracking path of PAA at the cathodic surface to generate CH₃C(O)O^• was innovatively revealed. Furthermore, toxicity prediction and real water matrix experiments confirmed the detoxification efficacy and practical applicability of the E-PAA system. This study provides new insights into the electrochemical activation of PAA and further expands the potential applications of PAA-based AOPs in water environmental remediation.