Photo electrocatalytic degradation 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in water using NiTiO2-NT/AC-PTFE electrode under ultraviolet and visible irradiation: Electrode fabrication and toxicity test

Abstract

The degradation of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) pesticide by photo-electrocatalytic process (PEC) equipped with special NiTiO2-NT/AC-PTFE electrodes was evaluated. The NiTiO2-NT/AC-PTFE electrodes were prepared by electrodepositing method and doping Ni into TiO2 nanotubes. Fabricated electrodes were that Ni doping, increases the removal efficiency of 2,4-D in the UV and visible light range. Characterized using SEM, EDX, and XRD analyses. The results showed that the use of an ultraviolet light source indicated a higher degradation in nickel concentration of 0.5 mg/L compared to 0.25 mg/L. Best results were achieved under the condition of a 90-min timeout, 0.1 A current, electrolyte concentration of 125 mg/L, and UV light source and the pesticide removal efficiency was 90 %. Therefore, the PEC process with the NiTiO2-NT/AC-PTFE electrode is as a relatively high-performance process for degrading 2,4-D from aqueous solutions. The organic byproducts were also identified by GC–MS analysis and toxicity tests were carried out by Chlorella vulgaris. The high concentration of pesticides increases the inhibition of algae growth due to their effects on algae.

Keywords

• Anodization
• Chlorella vulgaris algae
• Photo electrocatalysis
• TiO2 Nanotubes
• Toxicity test
• 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid