Jan 17 2010
Iranian researchers at University of Tabriz produced an electrode made of carbon nanotubes which is capable of highly removing colorants from industrial wastewaters.
"First, we fabricated PTFE carbon nanotube and PTEF graphite electrodes to be used as cathodes. Then, we measured hydrogen peroxide produced by the two mentioned electrodes through electrolysis. After that, we removed C.I. Basic Yellow 2 pollutant from contaminated waters by the fabricated electrodes," Mahmoud Zarei, one of the researchers said to the news service of INIC.
"The results show that hydrogen peroxide produced by carbon nanotube electrode is about three times and thirty times greater than that of carbon electrode and graphite electrode respectively. SEM and AFM images taken from electrodes surfaces imply an increase in contact area of carbon nanotube electrode and more production of hydrogen peroxide," he said, elaborating on the results of the research.
Zarei said that C.I. Basic Yellow 2 removal efficiency by carbon nanotube electrode through proxy coagulation process is about 96% in the first ten minutes of electrolysis.
"During this period, C.I. Basic Yellow 2 removal efficiency by carbon electrode through electric coagulation, electro-Fenton, and coagulation proxy were 21%, 53%, and 62% respectively. This reveals the high capability of carbon nanotube in colorants removal", he added.
The privilege of the present study over the similar ones is an increase in peroxide hydrogen production meaning higher process performance leading to electrolysis time shortening and process costs reductions.
The details of this research are available at Electrochimica Acta, volume 54, pages 6651 to 6660, 2009