Design and properties of Sn–Mn–Ce supported activated carbon composite as particle electrode for three-dimensionally electrochemical degradation of phenol

Abstract

Three-dimensionally (3D) electrochemical oxidation, as an advanced oxidation technology for wastewater treatment, has been widely used due to its many advantages. Granular material filled between two-dimensional electrodes as particle electrode is one of the key factors for high treatment efficiency. In order to improve the catalytic activity of granular activated carbon (GAC) as particle electrode for phenol degradation, the multi-component catalysts were supported on GAC by coprecipitation–calcination method. The effect of the supported component, working parameters (initial pH, electrolyte concentration and usage voltage) on the removal efficiency of chemical oxygen demand (COD) was investigated in detail. For the two-dimensional electrochemical oxidation, the COD removal efficiency is only 56.9% with only 32.0% of current efficiency. The COD removal rates for the 3D electrochemical oxidation with different particle electrodes are all greatly improved, especially for the Sn/Mn/Ce supported GAC. Its corresponding COD removal and current efficiency reach to about 75.6 and 72.6%, respectively. • Three-dimensionally electrochemical reactor was used to treat phenol wastewater. • Activated carbon with multicomponent catalysts was designed as particle electrode. • COD removal rates obviously became high by using multicomponent particle electrode. • Power consumption effectively decreased by using multicomponent particle electrode.