Heterogeneous photoelectro-Fenton treatment of fungicide cycloheximide by means of ternary nanocomposite catalyst - graphene based cathode couple
Journal of Water Process Engineering, cilt.93, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 93
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.jwpe.2026.111130
- Dergi Adı: Journal of Water Process Engineering
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, INSPEC
- Anahtar Kelimeler: Functionalized cathode, Fungicides, Magnetic nanocomposite, Photoelectrocatalysis/photoelectro-Fenton, Reduced graphene oxide
- Ankara Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
An integrated heterogeneous photoelectro-Fenton (hPEF) system comprising a BDD anode, an N-doped reduced graphene oxide-modified carbon felt cathode (NrGO/CF), and a magnetically recoverable rGO-Fe3O4-TiO2 catalyst (TC111; equimass ratio) was developed for cycloheximide (CHX) mineralization. The NrGO/CF cathode increased H2O2 electrogeneration rate 10.3-fold over unmodified CF, reaching approximately 11 mg H2O2 h−1 cm−2. Under optimized conditions (1 g L−1 TC111, 300 mA, and pH 3), 0.1 mM CHX was completely degraded within 6 min (kapp = 0.437 min−1) with 100% TOC removal within 120 min. Electrochemical characterization and radical-quenching tests supported the coupled roles of in situ H2O2 generation, Fe2+/Fe3+ cycling, TiO2 photoactivation, and rGO-assisted electron transfer; •OH was the dominant oxidant, with a possible secondary contribution from SO4•−. Detected transformation products, carboxylic acids, and inorganic species supported the proposed mineralization pathway. After five treatment cycles, CHX degradation reached 97.2% within 24 min and TOC removal reached 100% within 180 min; Fe release was 0.08 mg L−1. At 300 mA, recorded chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal from real pharmaceutical wastewater reached 100% in 80 mL after 300 min and 43.9% in 400 mL (initial COD: 6635.86 mg L−1) after 360 min, with respective electrochemical energy consumptions of 0.01852 and 0.068 kWh (g COD removed)−1. The fivefold volume increase was accompanied by only a twofold increase in BDD area. These preliminary bench-scale results demonstrate oxidative activity without external H2O2 or dissolved Fe addition and highlight geometric and electrical constraints on scale-up.