Carbon Gels–Green Graphene Composites as Metal-Free Bifunctional Electro-Fenton Catalysts
The Electro-Fenton (EF) process has emerged as a promising technology for pollutant removal. However, the EF process requires the use of two catalysts: one acting as an electrocatalyst for the reduction of oxygen to H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> and another Fenton-type catalyst...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Gels |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/9/8/665 |
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| author | Lilian D. Ramírez-Valencia Esther Bailón-García Adriana I. Moral-Rodríguez Francisco Carrasco-Marín Agustín F. Pérez-Cadenas |
| author_facet | Lilian D. Ramírez-Valencia Esther Bailón-García Adriana I. Moral-Rodríguez Francisco Carrasco-Marín Agustín F. Pérez-Cadenas |
| author_sort | Lilian D. Ramírez-Valencia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Electro-Fenton (EF) process has emerged as a promising technology for pollutant removal. However, the EF process requires the use of two catalysts: one acting as an electrocatalyst for the reduction of oxygen to H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> and another Fenton-type catalyst for the generation of ·OH radicals from H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>. Thus, the search for materials with bifunctionality for both processes is required for a practical and real application of the EF process. Thus, in this work, bifunctional electrocatalysts were obtained via doping carbon microspheres with Eco-graphene, a form of graphene produced using eco-friendly methods. The incorporation of Eco-graphene offers numerous advantages to the catalysts, including enhanced conductivity, leading to more efficient electron transfer during the Electro-Fenton process. Additionally, the synthesis induced structural defects that serve as active sites, promoting the direct production of hydroxyl radicals via a 3-electron pathway. Furthermore, the spherical morphology of carbon xerogels enhances the accessibility of the reagents to the active sites. This combination of factors results in the effective degradation of Tetracycline (TTC) using metal-free catalysts in the Electro-Fenton process, achieving up to an impressive 83% degradation without requiring any other external or additional catalyst. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:55:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-52039582099448dea65d1b0da9b32ad2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2310-2861 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:55:13Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Gels |
| spelling | doaj.art-52039582099448dea65d1b0da9b32ad22023-11-19T01:14:05ZengMDPI AGGels2310-28612023-08-019866510.3390/gels9080665Carbon Gels–Green Graphene Composites as Metal-Free Bifunctional Electro-Fenton CatalystsLilian D. Ramírez-Valencia0Esther Bailón-García1Adriana I. Moral-Rodríguez2Francisco Carrasco-Marín3Agustín F. Pérez-Cadenas4Materiales Polifuncionales Basados en Carbono (UGR-Carbon), Dpto. Química Inorgánica-Unidad de Excelencia Química Aplicada a Biomedicina y Medioambiente-Universidad de Granada (UEQ-UGR), ES18071 Granada, SpainMateriales Polifuncionales Basados en Carbono (UGR-Carbon), Dpto. Química Inorgánica-Unidad de Excelencia Química Aplicada a Biomedicina y Medioambiente-Universidad de Granada (UEQ-UGR), ES18071 Granada, SpainMateriales Polifuncionales Basados en Carbono (UGR-Carbon), Dpto. Química Inorgánica-Unidad de Excelencia Química Aplicada a Biomedicina y Medioambiente-Universidad de Granada (UEQ-UGR), ES18071 Granada, SpainMateriales Polifuncionales Basados en Carbono (UGR-Carbon), Dpto. Química Inorgánica-Unidad de Excelencia Química Aplicada a Biomedicina y Medioambiente-Universidad de Granada (UEQ-UGR), ES18071 Granada, SpainMateriales Polifuncionales Basados en Carbono (UGR-Carbon), Dpto. Química Inorgánica-Unidad de Excelencia Química Aplicada a Biomedicina y Medioambiente-Universidad de Granada (UEQ-UGR), ES18071 Granada, SpainThe Electro-Fenton (EF) process has emerged as a promising technology for pollutant removal. However, the EF process requires the use of two catalysts: one acting as an electrocatalyst for the reduction of oxygen to H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> and another Fenton-type catalyst for the generation of ·OH radicals from H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>. Thus, the search for materials with bifunctionality for both processes is required for a practical and real application of the EF process. Thus, in this work, bifunctional electrocatalysts were obtained via doping carbon microspheres with Eco-graphene, a form of graphene produced using eco-friendly methods. The incorporation of Eco-graphene offers numerous advantages to the catalysts, including enhanced conductivity, leading to more efficient electron transfer during the Electro-Fenton process. Additionally, the synthesis induced structural defects that serve as active sites, promoting the direct production of hydroxyl radicals via a 3-electron pathway. Furthermore, the spherical morphology of carbon xerogels enhances the accessibility of the reagents to the active sites. This combination of factors results in the effective degradation of Tetracycline (TTC) using metal-free catalysts in the Electro-Fenton process, achieving up to an impressive 83% degradation without requiring any other external or additional catalyst.https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/9/8/665Electro-Fentonxerogelsgrapheneheteroatomsmetal-freecarbon-based materials |
| spellingShingle | Lilian D. Ramírez-Valencia Esther Bailón-García Adriana I. Moral-Rodríguez Francisco Carrasco-Marín Agustín F. Pérez-Cadenas Carbon Gels–Green Graphene Composites as Metal-Free Bifunctional Electro-Fenton Catalysts Gels Electro-Fenton xerogels graphene heteroatoms metal-free carbon-based materials |
| title | Carbon Gels–Green Graphene Composites as Metal-Free Bifunctional Electro-Fenton Catalysts |
| title_full | Carbon Gels–Green Graphene Composites as Metal-Free Bifunctional Electro-Fenton Catalysts |
| title_fullStr | Carbon Gels–Green Graphene Composites as Metal-Free Bifunctional Electro-Fenton Catalysts |
| title_full_unstemmed | Carbon Gels–Green Graphene Composites as Metal-Free Bifunctional Electro-Fenton Catalysts |
| title_short | Carbon Gels–Green Graphene Composites as Metal-Free Bifunctional Electro-Fenton Catalysts |
| title_sort | carbon gels green graphene composites as metal free bifunctional electro fenton catalysts |
| topic | Electro-Fenton xerogels graphene heteroatoms metal-free carbon-based materials |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/9/8/665 |
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