Carbon textiles electrodes modified with RGO and Pt nanoparticles used for electrochemical treatment of azo dye

Abstract

• The use of a dimensionally versatile textile electrode permits efficient wastewater decolorization. • TC–RGO–Pt electrodes permit naphthalene degradation after electrolysis. • The stability of TC–RGO–Pt anodes have been proved after the electrolysis. • Very low energy consumption is needed for dye electrochemical degradation. • High mineralization of organic matter is obtained with chloride addition. • These electrodes are a valuable alternative for textile wastewater remediation. The efficiency of Orange G (OG) azo dye degradation using an electrochemical method under potentiostatic conditions has been comparatively studied in two electrolytic cells (divided and undivided cells) in the presence or absence of chloride ions with Pt-modified textile electrodes. The morphology of the carbon-based electrodes with nanoparticles of platinum electrochemically dispersed on their surface was analyzed using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and EDX analysis. The FESEM analyses confirmed that the textile surface was coated by Pt nanoparticles. According to the experimental results obtained, when the same solutions are comparatively treated with the two cells, the undivided cell always gives a quicker decolorization than the divided cell – and the decrease in total organic carbon (TOC), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and total nitrogen (TN) confirms this result. The degree of OG removal was monitored by spectroscopic methods and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results indicate that that full best dye removal is obtained at a loaded charge of around 0.17 Ah L −1 which is associated with an electrical energy per order (EEO) of 0.189 kW h m −3 order −1 . Based on the results obtained, the electrochemical process with TC-RGO-Pt electrodes could be useful as a pretreatment technique or treatment for decolorizing wastewaters containing dyes.