A novel tin-chloride-zirconium oxide-kaolin composite coated carbon felt anode for electro-oxidation of surfactant from municipal wastewater

Abstract

Presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) causes foam in the water bodies as a result, it is considered as one of the major pollutants in wastewater and in aquatic environment. In this investigation, anode material developed by convalescing carbon felt with tin-chloride-zirconium oxide-kaolin composite catalyst ink, prepared by the modified adapted Pechini method, was used for electro-oxidation of SDS from the synthetic wastewater. The composite catalyst labelled as SnZrK was prepared with composition of 0.39 M of tin-chloride, 0.296 M zirconium oxide, 1.93 × 10−6 M kaolin and 0.005 M citric acid. The composite catalyst exhibited increment in oxidation efficiency by 1.9 times in comparison to unmodified carbon felt in terms of mineralizing 20 mg L−1 of SDS concentration in water within 6 h. The surface morphology analysis and electrochemical characterization of SnZrK demonstrated the formation of mesoporous structures that led to an unprecedented increase in the electrochemical active area, as reflected by the improved current response during cyclic voltammetry analysis. The modified electrode was corrosion resistant and the oxidation followed pseudo second order kinetic model. This investigation demonstrates that the metal-composite-based electrocatalysts can enhance the anodic oxidation of SDS.