title: Highly efficient and mild electrochemical mineralization of long-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (C9-C10) by Ti/SnO2-Sb-Ce, Ti/SnO2-Sb/Ce-PbO2, and Ti/BDD electrodes.
abstract: The electrochemical mineralization of environmentally persistent long-chain perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs), i.e., perfluorononanoic acid (C8F17COOH, PFNA) and perfluorodecanoic acid (C9F19COOH, PFDA) was investigated in aqueous solutions (0.25 mmol L(-1)) over Ti/SnO2-Sb-Ce (SnO2), Ti/SnO2-Sb/Ce-PbO2 (PbO2), and Ti/BDD (BDD) anodes under galvanostatic control at room temperature. Based on PFCA decay rate, total organic carbon (TOC) reduction, defluorination ratio, safety, and energy consumption, the performance of PbO2 electrode was comparable with that of BDD electrode. After 180 min electrolysis, the PFNA removals on BDD and PbO2 electrodes were 98.7 ± 0.4% and 97.1 ± 1.0%, respectively, while the corresponding PFDA removals were 96.0 ± 1.4% and 92.2 ± 1.9%. SnO2 electrode yielded lower PFCA removals and led to notable secondary pollution by Sb ions. The primary mineralization product, F(-), as well as trace amounts of intermediate PFCAs with shortened chain lengths, were detected in aqueous solution after electrolysis. On the basis of these results, a degradation mechanism including three potential routes is proposed: via formation of short-chain PFCAs by stepwise removal of CF2; direct mineralization to CO2 and HF; conversion to volatile fluorinated organic compounds. The results presented here demonstrate that electrochemical technique exhibits high efficiency in mineralizing PFNA and PFDA under mild conditions, and is promising for the treatment of long-chain PFCAs in wastewater.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University , Beijing 100875, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Junfeng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.forename: Jiale
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Haiou
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Duo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhihan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yue
authors.forename: Chenghong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Feng
mesh_terms: D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis; D003652:Decanoic Acids / Q000737:chemistry*; D018130:Diamond / Q000737:chemistry*; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D004566:Electrodes; D004572:Electrolysis; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000737:chemistry*; D054879:Halogenation; D007700:Kinetics; D007854:Lead / Q000737:chemistry*; D008903:Minerals / Q000737:chemistry*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry*; D012996:Solutions; D013997:Time Factors; D017971:Tin Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D003652:Decanoic Acids; D005466:Fluorocarbons; D008903:Minerals; D010087:Oxides; D012996:Solutions; D017971:Tin Compounds; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D007854:Lead; C036567:perfluorodecanoic acid; C047365:lead oxide; D002244:Carbon; C018959:hexadecafluoro-nonanoic acid; D018130:Diamond; C045358:stannic oxide