The present study reports fluorine-doped titanium suboxide (F-doped TiSO) anode for electrochemical mineralization of hydrophobic micro-contaminant, tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) in water. F-doping modification led TiSO anode to produce hydroxyl radicals (●OH) with higher selectivity due to increased O2 revolution potential and higher activity due to more loosely interaction with hydrophobic electrode surface. For electro-oxidation process, F-doping had an insignificant impact to outer-sphere reaction and exerted inhibition on inner-sphere reaction, as indicated by cyclic voltammogram performed on Fe(CN)63−/4−, Ru(NH3)63+/2+and Fe3+/2+ redox couple. This resulted in electrochemical conversion of TBBPA and intermediates via more efficient outer-sphere reaction and hydroxylation route. In addition, O2 micro bubbles produced by anodic O2 evolution could be stabilized on hydrophobic F-doped TiSO anode, which extended the three-phase boundary available for interfacial enrichment of TBBPA and subsequent mineralization. Under action of these comprehensive factors, 0.5% F-doping TiSO membrane anode could achieve 99.7% mineralization of TBBPA upon energy consumption of 0.22 kWh m-3 at current density of 6.5 mA cm-2 (3.75 V vs SHE) and flow rate of 1628 LHM based on flow-through electrolysis. The modified anode exhibited superior performances compared with un-modified one in terms of more efficient TBBPA removal, less toxic intermediate accumulation and lower energy consumption. Our results may have important implications for electrochemical removal and detoxification of hydrophobic micro-pollutants in natural water and engineered wastewater systems.

Effective electrochemical mineralization of Tetrabromobisphenol A by fluorine-doped titanium suboxide reactive electrode membrane

Fall 2022 abstracts, posters, and presentations will launch in mid-September.

ACS Fall 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.