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Comparison of Different Cathode Materials for Degradation of Reactive Red 120 and Electricity Generation in Photocatalytic Fuel Cell

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Abstract

In this study, a photocatalytic fuel cell (PFC) based on immobilized zinc oxide (ZnO) on carbon felt photoanode and activated carbon flakes as cathode was designed for the treatment of azo dye, reactive red 120 (RR120) containing wastewater and simultaneous electricity generation. Under light irradiation, generated electron-hole pairs at the photoanode travel via the external circuit to the cathode, thus generating electricity. This was the first attempt where activated carbon flakes were applied as cathode material in PFC. This study examined the influence of parameters such as light irradiation, cathode material, initial dye concentration, supporting electrolytes, pH and concentration of oxidizing agent and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on the efficiency of PFC to degrade azo dye of RR120 while generating electricity. Complete decolourization of up to 50 mg/L of RR120 dye was achieved but increased dye concentration significantly reduced the PFC efficiency. The PFC efficiency improved using an amalgamation of supporting electrolytes, pH and oxidizing agent at optimum levels, achieving total dye removal and producing a maximum power density of 18.58 mW/cm2.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Water Research Group (WAREG), School of Environmental Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, 02600, Arau, Perlis, Malaysia

    Alan Jay Mariaswamy & Soon-An Ong

  2. Faculty of Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, 02100, Padang Besar, Perlis, Malaysia

    Abdul Latif Abdul Rani

  3. Center for Frontier Materials Research, School of Materials Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, 02600, Arau, Perlis, Malaysia

    Li-Ngee Ho

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  1. Alan Jay Mariaswamy
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  2. Soon-An Ong
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  3. Abdul Latif Abdul Rani
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  4. Li-Ngee Ho
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Correspondence to Li-Ngee Ho.

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Mariaswamy, A.J., Ong, SA., Abdul Rani, A.L. et al. Comparison of Different Cathode Materials for Degradation of Reactive Red 120 and Electricity Generation in Photocatalytic Fuel Cell. Water Air Soil Pollut 231, 522 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-020-04870-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-020-04870-x

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