Abstract
A photoelectrochemical (PEC) oxidation and flow-electrode capacitive deionization (FCDI) dual system was explored for the effective treatment of brackish water. Two anodic electrodes with electrochemically self-doped TiO2 arrays (blue-mesh/ blue-plate TiO2 nanotube arrays (BM-TNA & BP-TNA)) were fabricated by annealing at 600 °C, and applied for the treatment of a water system. Specifically, the BM-TNA confirmed lower electrical resistance and superior performance under multiple light source (UV-A, -B, and -C). Furthermore, the system generated powerful oxidizing reactive oxygen species (ROS), which were assessed via degradation of eight organic pollutants: bisphenol-A, 4-chlorophenol, cimetidine, sulfamethoxazole, benzoic acid, phenol, nitrobenzene, and acetaminophen. Decomposition efficiency was stable throughout a wide range of pH, and durability of the BM-TNA electrode was demonstrated through long-term operation. Concurrently, optimization of the FCDI process via key operational parameters (electrode mass loading, and applied voltage) achieved superior desalination performance, and specific energy consumption (SEC). In particular, increased mass loading enhanced charge transportation through the formation of stable charge-percolation pathways, leading to improved solution conductance. Finally, the feasibility of the dual system (PEC-FCDI) was verified through complete degradation of the organic substrates and successful desalination of the brackish water.
Highlights
The rising demand for freshwater due to the occurrence of water shortages worldwide has become an urgent challenge to be solved[1,2]
These pollutants are transported throughout water bodies, causing severe disturbance to aquatic life[9], and adversely affecting the human body upon consumption as they typically act as endocrine-disrupting substances[10,11]
To explore the potential of the catalyst, we evaluated the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) properties by comparing the activities of the BM-TNA and BP-TNA catalysts, as shown in the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) results (Fig. 2(a))
Summary
The rising demand for freshwater due to the occurrence of water shortages worldwide has become an urgent challenge to be solved[1,2]. Brackish water has been observed to broadly contain organic pollutants, such as sulfamethoxazole (SMX), bisphenol-A (BPA), acetaminophen (AMP), 4-chlorophenol (4CP), nitrobenzene (NIB), benzoic acid (BA), phenol (PH), and cimetidine (CMT), which are mostly assumed to originate from various wastewater sources (such as industrial, medical, and aquaculture farms)[8]. These pollutants are transported throughout water bodies, causing severe disturbance to aquatic life (such as genetic variation and strong resistance)[9], and adversely affecting the human body upon consumption as they typically act as endocrine-disrupting substances[10,11]. Development and the successful application of technologies for the treatment of contaminated brackish water for drinking or domestic use is an essential matter[12]
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