Title
Scaling up photoelectrocatalytic reactors: A TiO<inf>2</inf> nanotube-coated disc compound reactor effectively degrades acetaminophen
Date Issued
01 January 2019
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
MONTENEGRO AYO, RENATO MARTIN
MORALES GOMERO, JUAN CARLOS
Cotillas S.
ALARCON CAVERO, HUGO ARTURO
Westerhoff P.
Garcia-Segura S.
Abstract
Multiple discs coated with hierarchically-organized TiO2 anatase nanotubes served as photoelectrodes in a novel annular photoelectrocatalytic reactor. Electrochemical characterization showed light irradiation enhanced the current response due to photogeneration of charge carriers. The pharmaceutical acetaminophen was used as a representative water micropollutant. The photoelectrocatalysis pseudo-first-order rate constant for acetaminophen was seven orders of magnitude greater than electrocatalytic treatment. Compared against photocatalysis alone, our photoelectrocatalytic reactor at <8 V reduced by two fold, the electric energy per order (EEO; kWh m-3 order-1 for 90% pollutant degradation). Applying a cell potential higher than 8 V detrimentally increased EEO. Acetaminophen was degraded across a range of initial concentrations, but absorbance at higher concentration diminished photon transport, resulting in higher EEO. Extended photoelectrocatalytic reactor operation degraded acetaminophen, which was accompanied by 53% mineralization based upon total organic carbon measurements. This proof of concept for our photoelectrocatalytic reactor demonstrated a strategy to increase photo-active surface area in annular reactors.
Volume
11
Issue
12
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Nano-tecnología
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85076752807
Source
Water (Switzerland)
ISSN of the container
20734441
Sponsor(s)
Funding: This work was partially funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) through the Nanotechnology-Enabled Water Treatment Nanosystems Engineering Research Center under project EEC-1449500 and the Research Institute of the Universidad de Lima and FONDECYT-Perú under project 105-2015.
Sources of information: Directorio de Producción Científica Scopus