Electrochemistry

The widespread use of synthetic dyes has led to the release of substantial amounts of dye-contaminated wastewater, posing significant environmental and health concerns. This study focuses on the use of anodic and electrochemically activated persulfate oxidation for the degradation of organic contaminants. Specifically, the structural variations of nine dyes in the indigoid and azo families, and their impact on the efficiency of electrochemical oxidation were analyzed. An in situ continuous monitoring apparatus with a UV-visible detector was employed to collect data in real-time.

The innovation lies in modifying conventional sensors by incorporating advanced materials like graphene and its derivatives. These materials, derived from carbon, a widely abundant and renewable element, offer exceptional properties, including high molecular adsorption capacity, excellent electrical conductivity, and outstanding mechanical strength. Their multifunctionality supports material efficiency by significantly reducing the volume of resources required for sensor production.

CO2 electrolyzers have gained significant attention as a viable technology to convert CO2 to multi-carbon products, thus helping mitigate carbon emissions and promote carbon circularity.  To be competitive with current chemicals manufacturing, the selectivity of multi-carbon products and the process energy efficiency in CO2 electrolyzers needs yet to be improved. This work aims to address these challenges and make this reaction more sustainable by enhancing ethylene selectivity and improving reactor energy efficiency.