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Kinetic study of Rhodamine B degradation of electro-catalysis by TiO2/activated semi-coke composite as tiny electrode

  • Original Paper: Nano-structured materials (particles, fibers, colloids, composites, etc.)
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Abstract

Electrode materials play a crucial role in the efficient treatment of organic wastewater through electrocatalytic oxidation. Semi-coke after activation has recently been found as a potential and reliable electrode material, and TiO2-coated electrodes have been developed for a range of applications owing to their superior electro-catalytic performance. Therefore, this study focused on Rhodamine B (RhB) removal via electro-catalysis using a TiO2/activated semi-coke (TiO2/ASC) composite, and the synthesized composite was characterized by SEM, XRD, FT-IR, and UV-DRS analysis. The results showed that TiO2 particles were evenly distributed on the ASC surface, and TiO2 could reduce the value of the band gap and facilitate electron transport in electrocatalysis. The influencing factors during RhB removal with the TiO2/ASC composite were also investigated, with an initial pH value of 2, a bias voltage of 16 V, an initial concentration of 3 mg/L, and a 50 mg dosage of the TiO2/ASC composite, indicating that RhB could be completely removed after 45 min. A second-order quadratic model was established to describe the relationship between the RhB removal rate and three significant factors: dosage, reaction time, and initial pH. Response surface methodology was used to describe the interactive effects of three variables, which was effective for understanding the behavior of electro-catalysis on the TiO2/ASC composite. The kinetics study demonstrated that RhB removal during the electro-catalysis process confirmed pseudo-first-order kinetics.

Graphical Abstract

Rhodamine B, a typical pollutant in wastewater discharged from the dye sector, requires immediate treatment; semi-coke, a solid product of coal pyrolysis, needs continuous industrial chain extension to manufacture high-value-added products. Therefore, semi-coke was activated to fabricate activated semi-coke to enhance its pore structure and electrocatalytic performance. Nano TiO2 was then deposited to the surface of activated semi-coke using the sol-gel method, and the nano TiO2/activated semi-coke electrocatalyst was developed for the electrocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B, which was finally broken down into small molecules in the electrocatalytic process. This research provides a new pathway for the utilization of affordable and broadly sourced semi-coke.

Highlights

  • It provides a new pathway for the utilization of affordable semi-coke.

  • TiO2 loaded on activated semi-coke reduce band gap and promote electron transport.

  • It establishes the relationship between the RhB removal rate and three main factors.

  • It describes the interactive effects of three variables in electro-catalysis process.

  • RhB removal during the electro-catalysis confirms pseudo-first-order kinetics.

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Acknowledgements

We appreciate the financial support of the Natural Science Foundation of Shaanxi Provincial Department of Education (No. 17JK0442), and the Talent Science and Technology Fund of Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology (No. RC1420).

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  1. College of Materials Science and Engineering, Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi’an, 710055, China

    Na Chang, Jiaxin Liu, Yuxin Ji, Jinyi Liu & Yanxin Chen

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  1. Na Chang
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Chang, N., Liu, J., Ji, Y. et al. Kinetic study of Rhodamine B degradation of electro-catalysis by TiO2/activated semi-coke composite as tiny electrode. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 106, 684–698 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-023-06087-w

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