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Nanoscale zero-valent iron/AC as heterogeneous Fenton catalysts in three-dimensional electrode system

  • Electrochemical advanced oxidation processes for removal of toxic/persistent organic pollutants from water
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Abstract

In the present work, nanoscale zero-valent iron/activated carbon (NZVI/AC) was investigated as heterogeneous Fenton catalyst in three-dimensional (3D) electrode system for methyl orange (MO) degradation. Some important operating parameters such as cathodic potential, pH, and O2 flow rate were investigated, exhibiting good decolorization. The mineralization of MO was significantly improved by 20–35 % compared to two-dimensional (2D) AC system at the optimum conditions. Although the TOC removal of AC was higher than NZVI/AC due to its good adsorption capacity initially, heterogeneous Fenton catalysis played a more and more important roles in the following test. After eight runs, NZVI/AC still exhibited excellent catalytic properties with low iron leaching. Further, a relatively comprehensive mechanism of NZVI/AC as particle electrodes in 3D system was proposed.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Natural Science Foundation of China (no. 51178225, 21250110515, and 21273120), National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (2012AA062603, 2013AA065900, and 2013AA06A205), and Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China (20110031110025).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Pollution Process and Environmental Criteria, Ministry of Education, Tianjin, China

    Chao Zhang, Lei Zhou, Jie Yang, Xinmin Yu & Minghua Zhou

  2. Tianjin Key Laboratory of Urban Ecology Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China

    Chao Zhang, Lei Zhou, Jie Yang, Xinmin Yu & Minghua Zhou

  3. State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China

    Yonghai Jiang

Authors
  1. Chao Zhang
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  2. Lei Zhou
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  3. Jie Yang
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  4. Xinmin Yu
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  5. Yonghai Jiang
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  6. Minghua Zhou
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Correspondence to Minghua Zhou.

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Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Zhang, C., Zhou, L., Yang, J. et al. Nanoscale zero-valent iron/AC as heterogeneous Fenton catalysts in three-dimensional electrode system. Environ Sci Pollut Res 21, 8398–8405 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-2791-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-2791-1

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