Please wait a minute...
Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering

ISSN 2095-2201

ISSN 2095-221X(Online)

CN 10-1013/X

Postal Subscription Code 80-973

2018 Impact Factor: 3.883

Front. Environ. Sci. Eng.    2016, Vol. 10 Issue (4) : 15    https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-016-0860-z
RESEARCH ARTICLE
An electrochemical process that uses an Fe0/TiO2 cathode to degrade typical dyes and antibiotics and a bio-anode that produces electricity
Chaojie Jiang1,Lifen Liu1,*(),John C. Crittenden2
1. Key Laboratory of Industrial Ecology and Environmental Engineering (Ministry of Education), School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
2. School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
 Download: PDF(944 KB)   HTML
 Export: BibTeX | EndNote | Reference Manager | ProCite | RefWorks
Abstract

A bio-electrochemical fuel cell reactor with cathodic Fe0/TiO2 generates electricity.

It destroys recalcitrant pollutants in cathode chamber without photocatalysis.

Fe0/TiO2 generates reactive oxygenated species in the dark or under photocatalysis.

Cathodic produced ROS (hydroxy radical/superoxide radical) can degrade tetracycline or dyes.

Electricity generation is enhanced by semiconductor catalyzed cathodic degradation of pollutants.

In this study, a new water treatment system that couples (photo-) electrochemical catalysis (PEC or EC) in a microbial fuel cell (MFC) was configured using a stainless-steel (SS) cathode coated with Fe0/TiO2. We examined the destruction of methylene blue (MB) and tetracycline. Fe0/TiO2 was prepared using a chemical reduction-deposition method and coated onto an SS wire mesh (500 mesh) using a sol technique. The anode generates electricity using microbes (bio-anode). Connected via wire and ohmic resistance, the system requires a short reaction time and operates at a low cost by effectively removing 94% MB (initial concentration 20 mg·L1) and 83% TOC/TOC0 under visible light illumination (50 W; 1.99 mW·cm2 for 120 min, MFC-PEC). The removal was similar even without light irradiation (MFC-EC). The EEo of the MFC-PEC system was approximately 0.675 kWh·m3·order1, whereas that of the MFC-EC system was zero. The system was able to remove 70% COD in tetracycline solution (initial tetracycline concentration 100 mg·L1) after 120 min of visible light illumination; without light, the removal was 15% lower. The destruction of MB and tetracycline in both traditional photocatalysis and photoelectrocatalysis systems was notably low. The electron spin-resonance spectroscopy (ESR) study demonstrated that ·OH was formed under visible light, and ·O2 was formed without light. The bio-electricity-activated O2 and ROS (reactive oxidizing species) generation by Fe0/TiO2 effectively degraded the pollutants. This cathodic degradation improved the electricity generation by accepting and consuming more electrons from the bio-anode.

Keywords Bio-anode      Photocatalytic cathode      Fe0/TiO2      ESR      Dye and antibiotics      Advanced oxidation     
PACS:     
Fund: 
Corresponding Author(s): Lifen Liu   
Online First Date: 08 July 2016    Issue Date: 24 August 2016
 Cite this article:   
Chaojie Jiang,Lifen Liu,John C. Crittenden. An electrochemical process that uses an Fe0/TiO2 cathode to degrade typical dyes and antibiotics and a bio-anode that produces electricity[J]. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng., 2016, 10(4): 15.
 URL:  
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fese/EN/10.1007/s11783-016-0860-z
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fese/EN/Y2016/V10/I4/15
Fig.1  Flow chart of the catalytic cathode preparation
Fig.2  Design of the MFC-PEC system
Fig.3  SEM images of nanoscale Fe0/TiO2 composites
Fig.4  UV-vis absorption spectra of TiO2 and nanoscale Fe0/TiO2 composites
Fig.5  Destruction of methylene blue (MB) under different conditions ((a) shows the decrement percent of concentration in the MB solution; (b) shows the change in TOC/TOC0 in the MB solution)
Fig.6  Destruction of tetracycline under different conditions
Fig.7  ESR spectrum of the experiment when MB was removed from the system with light (a) and without light (b)
Fig.8  Reactor cell voltage (a) and power density (b) under different conditions
1 Liu Y B, Li J H, Zhou B X, Li X J, Chen H C, Chen Q P, Wang Z S, Li L, Wang J L, Cai W M. Efficient electricity production and simultaneously wastewater treatment via a high-performance photocatalytic fuel cell. Water Research, 2011, 45(13): 3991–3998
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2011.05.004 pmid: 21620432
2 Lin L, Wang H Y, Luo H M, Xu P. Enhanced photocatalysis using side-glowing optical fibers coated with Fe-doped TiO2 nanocomposite thin films. Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A Chemistry, 2015, 307–308: 88–98
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochem.2015.04.010
3 Chen Q P, Bai J, Li J H, Huang K, Li X J, Zhou B X, Cai W M. Aerated visible-light responsive photocatalytic fuel cell for wastewater treatment with producing sustainable electricity in neutral solution. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2014, 252: 89–94
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2014.04.046
4 Lai B, Wang P, Li H R, Du Z W, Wang L J, Bi S C. Calcined polyaniline-iron composite as a high efficient cathodic catalyst in microbial fuel cells. Bioresource Technology, 2013, 131: 321–324
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2012.12.046 pmid: 23360708
5 Li J Y, Li J H, Chen Q P, Bai J, Zhou B X. Converting hazardous organics into clean energy using a solar responsive dual photoelectrode photocatalytic fuel cell. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2013, 262: 304–310
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2013.08.066 pmid: 24051045
6 Jadhav D A, Ghadge A N, Ghangrekar M M. Enhancing the power generation in microbial fuel cells with effective utilization of goethite recovered from mining mud as anodic catalyst. Bioresource Technology, 2015, 191: 110–116
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2015.04.109 pmid: 25983229
7 Lee K Y, Ryu W S, Cho S I, Lim K H. Comparative study on power generation of dual-cathode microbial fuel cell according to polarization methods. Water Research, 2015, 84: 43–48
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2015.07.001 pmid: 26210028
8 Wang A J, Cheng H Y, Ren N Q, Cui D, Lin N, Wu W M. Sediment microbial fuel cell with floating biocathode for organic removal and energy recovery. Frontiers of Environmental Science and Engineering, 2012, 6(4): 569–574
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-011-0335-1
9 Liang P, Wei J C, Li M, Huang X. Scaling up a novel denitrifying microbial fuel cell with an oxic-anoxic two stage biocathode. Frontiers of Environmental Science and Engineering, 2013, 7(6): 913–919
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-013-0583-3
10 Liu W F, Cheng S A, Sun D, Huang B, Chen J, Cen K F. Inhibition of microbial growth on air cathodes of single chamber microbial fuel cells by incorporating enrofloxacin into the catalyst layer. Biosensors & Bioelectronics, 2015, 72: 44–50
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bios.2015.04.082 pmid: 25957076
11 Liao Z H, Sun J Z, Sun D Z, Si R W, Yong Y C. Enhancement of power production with tartaric acid doped polyaniline nanowire network modified anode in microbial fuel cells. Bioresource Technology, 2015, 192: 831–834
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2015.05.105 pmid: 26094048
12 Xiao Y, Zheng Y, Wu S, Yang Z H, Zhao F. Nitrogen recovery from wastewater using microbial fuel cells. Frontiers of Environmental Science and Engineering, 2016, 10(1): 185–191
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-014-0730-5
13 Wang Z J, Zhang B G, Alistair G L B, Feng C Q, Ni J R. Utilization of single-chamber microbial fuel cells as renewable power sources for electrochemical degradation of nitrogen-containing organic compounds. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2015, 280: 99–105
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2015.06.012
14 Tang W W, Chen X Y, Xia J, Gong J M, Zeng X P. Preparation of an Fe-doped visible-light-response TiO2 film electrodeand its photoelectrocatalytic activity. Materials Science and Engineering B, 2014, 187: 39–45
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mseb.2014.04.011
15 Ding X, Ai Z H, Zhang L Z. A dual-cell wastewater treatment system with combining anodic visible light driven photoelectro-catalytic oxidation and cathodic electro-Fenton oxidation. Separation and Purification Technology, 2014, 125: 103–110
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2014.01.046
16 Li J, Lv S, Liu Y, Bai J, Zhou B, Hu X. Photoeletrocatalytic activity of an n-ZnO/p-Cu2O/n-TNA ternary heterojunction electrode for tetracycline degradation. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2013, 262: 482–488
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2013.09.002 pmid: 24076571
17 Liu Y B, Li H, Zhou B X, Lv S B, Li X J, Chen H C, Chen Q P, Cai W M. Photoelectrocatalytic degradation of refractory organic compounds enhanced by a photocatalytic fuel cell. Applied Catalysis B: Environmental, 2012, 111–112: 485–491
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2011.10.038
18 Xu S C, Pan S S, Xu Y, Luo Y Y, Zhang Y X, Li G H. Efficient removal of Cr(VI) from wastewater under sunlight by Fe(II)-doped TiO₂ spherical shell. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2015, 283: 7–13
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2014.08.071 pmid: 25261756
19 Chen C, Long M C, Zeng H, Cai W M, Zhou B X, Zhang J Y, Wu Y, Ding D W, Wu D Y. Preparation, characterization and visible-light activity of carbon modified TiO2 with two kinds of carbonaceous species. Journal of Molecular Catalysis A Chemical, 2009, 314(1–2): 35–41
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molcata.2009.08.014
20 Yao Y, Li K, Chen S, Ji J P, Wang Y L, Wang H W. Decolorization of Rhodamine B in a thin-film photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) reactor with slant-placed TiO2 nanotubes electrode. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2012, 187: 29–35
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2012.01.056
21 Hsieh W P, Pan J R, Huang C, Su Y C, Juang Y J. Enhance the photocatalytic activity for the degradation of organic contaminants in water by incorporating TiO2 with zero-valent iron. Science of the Total Environment, 2010, 408(3): 672–679
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2009.07.038 pmid: 19896167
22 Rodriguez S, Vasquez L, Costa D, Romero A, Santos A. Oxidation of Orange G by persulfate activated by Fe(II), Fe(III) and zero valent iron (ZVI). Chemosphere, 2014, 101: 86–92
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2013.12.037 pmid: 24439838
23 Wang Z Q, Wen B, Hao Q Q, Liu L M, Zhou C, Mao X, Lang X, Yin W J, Dai D, Selloni A, Yang X. Localized excitation of Ti3+ ions in the photoabsorption and photocatalytic activity of reduced rutile TiO2. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2015, 137(28): 9146–9152
https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.5b04483 pmid: 26121118
24 Xu Y L, Jia J P, Zhong D J, Wang Y L. Degradation of dye wastewater in a thin-film photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) reactor with slant-placed TiO2/Ti anode. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2009, 150(2–3): 302–307
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2009.01.002
25 Yang J, Cao M, Guo R, Jia J P. Permeable reactive barrier of surface hydrophobic granular activated carbon coupled with elemental iron for the removal of 2,4-dichlorophenol in water. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2010, 184(1–3): 782–787
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2010.08.109 pmid: 20864257
26 Kim J H, Park I S, Park J Y. Electricity generation and recovery of iron hydroxides using a single chamber fuel cell with iron anode and air-cathode for electrocoagulation. Applied Energy, 2015, 160: 18–27
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2015.09.041
27 Liu L F, Chen F, Yang F L, Che Y S, Crittenden J. Photocatalytic degradation of 2,4-dichlorophenol using nanoscale Fe/TiO2. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2012, 181–182: 189–195
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2011.11.060
28 Daneshvar N, Aber S, Seyed Dorraji M S, Khataee A R, Rasoulifard M H. Photocatalytic degradation of the insecticide diazinon in the presence of prepared nanocrystalline ZnO powders under irradiation of UV-C light. Separation and Purification Technology, 2007, 58(1): 91–98
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2007.07.016
29 Muruganandham M, Selvam K, Swaminathan M. A comparative study of quantum yield and electrical energy per order (EEo) for advanced oxidative decolourisation of reactive azo dyes by UV light. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2007, 144(1–2): 316–322
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2006.10.035 pmid: 17125921
30 Daneshvar N, Aleboyeh A, Khataee A R. The evaluation of electrical energy per order (EEo) for photooxidative decolorization of four textile dye solutions by the kinetic model. Chemosphere, 2005, 59(6): 761–767
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2004.11.012 pmid: 15811404
31 Behnajady M A, Vahid B, Modirshahla N, Shokri M. Evaluation of electrical energy per order (EEo) with kinetic modeling on the removal of Malachite Green by US/UV/H2O2 process. Desalination, 2009, 249(1): 99–103
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2008.07.025
32 He C, Yu Y, Hu X F, Larbot A. Influence of silver doping on the photocatalytic activity of titania films. Applied Surface Science, 2002, 200(1–4): 239–247
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0169-4332(02)00927-3
33 Atsushi K.A combination of Electron Spin Resonance spectroscopy/atom transfer radical polymerization (ESR/ATRP) techniques for fundamental investigation of radical polymerizations of (meth) acrylates. Polymer, 2015, 72: 253–263
34 Fujishima A, Zhang X, Tryk D A. TiO2 photocatalysis and related surface phenomena. Surface Science Reports, 2008, 63(12): 515–582
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surfrep.2008.10.001
35 Huang C, Hsieh W P, Pan J R, Chang S M. Characteristic of an innovative TiO2/Fe0 composite for treatment of azo dye. Separation and Purification Technology, 2007, 58(1): 152–158
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2007.07.034
36 Jayanthi Kalaivani G, Suja S K. TiO2 (rutile) embedded inulin—A versatile bio-nanocomposite for photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue. Carbohydrate Polymers, 2016, 143: 51–60
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2016.01.054 pmid: 27083343
37 Shestakova M, Graves J, Sitarz M, Sillanpää M. Optimization of Ti/Ta2O5–SnO2 electrodes and reaction parameters for electrocatalytic oxidation of methylene blue. Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, 2016, 46(3): 349–358
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-016-0925-5
[1] Majid Mustafa, Huijiao Wang, Richard H. Lindberg, Jerker Fick, Yujue Wang, Mats Tysklind. Identification of resistant pharmaceuticals in ozonation using QSAR modeling and their fate in electro-peroxone process[J]. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng., 2021, 15(5): 106-.
[2] Yang Li, Yixin Zhang, Guangshen Xia, Juhong Zhan, Gang Yu, Yujue Wang. Evaluation of the technoeconomic feasibility of electrochemical hydrogen peroxide production for decentralized water treatment[J]. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng., 2021, 15(1): 1-.
[3] Yapeng Song, Hui Gong, Jianbing Wang, Fengmin Chang, Kaijun Wang. Enhanced triallyl isocyanurate (TAIC) degradation through application of an O3/UV process: Performance optimization and degradation pathways[J]. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng., 2020, 14(4): 64-.
[4] Virender K. Sharma, Xin Yu, Thomas J. McDonald, Chetan Jinadatha, Dionysios D. Dionysiou, Mingbao Feng. Elimination of antibiotic resistance genes and control of horizontal transfer risk by UV-based treatment of drinking water: A mini review[J]. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng., 2019, 13(3): 37-.
[5] Siyi Lu, Naiyu Wang, Can Wang. Oxidation and biotoxicity assessment of microcystin-LR using different AOPs based on UV, O3 and H2O2[J]. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng., 2018, 12(3): 12-.
[6] Pan Gao, Yuan Song, Shaoning Wang, Claude Descorme, Shaoxia Yang. Fe2O3-CeO2-Bi2O3/γ-Al2O3 catalyst in the catalytic wet air oxidation (CWAO) of cationic red GTL under mild reaction conditions[J]. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng., 2018, 12(1): 8-.
[7] Xiaoxia Ou, Jianfang Yan, Fengjie Zhang, Chunhua Zhang. Accelerated degradation of orange G over a wide pH range in the presence of FeVO4[J]. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng., 2018, 12(1): 7-.
[8] David R. HOKANSON,Ke LI,R. Rhodes TRUSSELL. A photolysis coefficient for characterizing the response of aqueous constituents to photolysis[J]. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng., 2016, 10(3): 428-437.
[9] Eunsung KAN,Chang-Il KOH,Kyunghyuk LEE,Joonwun KANG. Decomposition of aqueous chlorinated contaminants by UV irradiation with H2O2[J]. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng., 2015, 9(3): 429-435.
[10] Liping LIANG,Jing ZHANG,Pian FENG,Cong LI,Yuying HUANG,Bingzhi DONG,Lina LI,Xiaohong GUAN. Occurrence of bisphenol A in surface and drinking waters and its physicochemical removal technologies[J]. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng., 2015, 9(1): 16-38.
[11] Qishi LUO. Oxidative treatment of aqueous monochlorobenzene with thermally-activated persulfate[J]. Front Envir Sci Eng, 2014, 8(2): 188-194.
[12] Wenzhen LI, Yu DING, Qian SUI, Shuguang LU, Zhaofu QIU, Kuangfei LIN. Identification and ecotoxicity assessment of intermediates generated during the degradation of clofibric acid by advanced oxidation processes[J]. Front Envir Sci Eng, 2012, 6(4): 445-454.
Viewed
Full text


Abstract

Cited

  Shared   
  Discussed