Ni mesh supported α,β-PbO₂ electrode for electrochemical degradation of bisphenol E: electrode fabrication and...

Electrochemical degradation of BPE has gained increasing attention due to its efficient removal of this persistent endocrine-disrupting pollutant without secondary pollution. In this study, a Ni mesh-supported α,β-PbO₂ electrode is employed for its effective degradation. The synergistic coexistence of α- and β-PbO₂ enhances mechanical stability, conductivity, and catalytic activity for efficient reactive oxygen species generation, while the Ni mesh substrate provides a three-dimensional conductive network that improves mass transport, active site accessibility, and overall electrochemical performance. The electrode deposited for 15 min exhibited the highest degradation efficiency, attributed to its more accessible surface and higher density of active sites, whereas prolonged deposition resulted in compact layers with mass transport limitations. The degradation followed pseudo-first-order kinetics and decreased with increasing initial BPE concentration, achieving ∼95%, ∼89%, and ∼83% removal for 2, 5, and 10 ppm, respectively. The presence of supporting electrolyte significantly improved performance, with an optimum at 40 mM due to enhanced conductivity and ˙OH generation, while higher concentrations led to a slight decline. Acidic conditions (pH 3.1) favored degradation by suppressing oxygen evolution. The electrode demonstrated good stability, retaining ∼83% degradation efficiency after five cycles without significant morphological changes, confirming its robustness for repeated applications.