Reducing Energy Penalty in Wastewater Treatment: Fe-Cu-Modified MWCNT Electrodes for Low-Voltage Electrofiltration of OMC

Pseudo-persistent organic pollutants, such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products (PPCPs), and organic dyes, are a major issue in current environmental engineering. Considering the limitations of traditional wastewater treatment plant methods and degradation technologies for organic pollutants,...

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Main Authors: Lu Yu, Jun Zeng, Xiu Fan, Fengxiang Li, Tao Hua
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-08-01
Series:Energies
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/15/4077
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author Lu Yu
Jun Zeng
Xiu Fan
Fengxiang Li
Tao Hua
author_facet Lu Yu
Jun Zeng
Xiu Fan
Fengxiang Li
Tao Hua
author_sort Lu Yu
collection DOAJ
description Pseudo-persistent organic pollutants, such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products (PPCPs), and organic dyes, are a major issue in current environmental engineering. Considering the limitations of traditional wastewater treatment plant methods and degradation technologies for organic pollutants, the search for new technologies more suitable for treating these new types of pollutants has become a research hotspot in recent years. Membrane filtration, adsorption, advanced oxidation, and electrochemical advanced oxidation technologies can effectively treat new organic pollutants. The electro-advanced oxidation process based on sulfate radicals is renowned for its non-selectivity, high efficiency, and environmental friendliness, and it can improve the dewatering performance of sludge after wastewater treatment. Therefore, in this study, octyl methoxycinnamate (OMC) was selected as the target pollutant. A new type of electrochemical filtration device based on the advanced oxidation process of sulfate radicals was designed, and a new type of modified carbon nanotube material electrode was synthesized to enhance its degradation effect. In a mixed system of water and acetonitrile, the efficiency of the electrochemical filtration device loaded with the modified electrode for degrading OMC is 1.54 times that at room temperature. The experimental results confirmed the superiority and application prospects of the self-designed treatment scheme for organic pollutants, providing experience and a reference for the future treatment of PPCP pollution.
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publishDate 2025-08-01
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series Energies
spelling doaj-art-eecf991dc7e2411eae8f27d25d8fbc8a2025-08-20T03:36:41ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-08-011815407710.3390/en18154077Reducing Energy Penalty in Wastewater Treatment: Fe-Cu-Modified MWCNT Electrodes for Low-Voltage Electrofiltration of OMCLu Yu0Jun Zeng1Xiu Fan2Fengxiang Li3Tao Hua4Key Laboratory of Pollution Process and Environmental Criteria, Ministry of Education, China Tianjin Engineering Center of Environmental Diagnosis and Contamination Remediation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, 38 Tongyan Road, Tianjin 300350, ChinaKey Laboratory of Pollution Process and Environmental Criteria, Ministry of Education, China Tianjin Engineering Center of Environmental Diagnosis and Contamination Remediation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, 38 Tongyan Road, Tianjin 300350, ChinaKey Laboratory of Pollution Process and Environmental Criteria, Ministry of Education, China Tianjin Engineering Center of Environmental Diagnosis and Contamination Remediation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, 38 Tongyan Road, Tianjin 300350, ChinaKey Laboratory of Pollution Process and Environmental Criteria, Ministry of Education, China Tianjin Engineering Center of Environmental Diagnosis and Contamination Remediation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, 38 Tongyan Road, Tianjin 300350, ChinaKey Laboratory of Pollution Process and Environmental Criteria, Ministry of Education, China Tianjin Engineering Center of Environmental Diagnosis and Contamination Remediation, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, 38 Tongyan Road, Tianjin 300350, ChinaPseudo-persistent organic pollutants, such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products (PPCPs), and organic dyes, are a major issue in current environmental engineering. Considering the limitations of traditional wastewater treatment plant methods and degradation technologies for organic pollutants, the search for new technologies more suitable for treating these new types of pollutants has become a research hotspot in recent years. Membrane filtration, adsorption, advanced oxidation, and electrochemical advanced oxidation technologies can effectively treat new organic pollutants. The electro-advanced oxidation process based on sulfate radicals is renowned for its non-selectivity, high efficiency, and environmental friendliness, and it can improve the dewatering performance of sludge after wastewater treatment. Therefore, in this study, octyl methoxycinnamate (OMC) was selected as the target pollutant. A new type of electrochemical filtration device based on the advanced oxidation process of sulfate radicals was designed, and a new type of modified carbon nanotube material electrode was synthesized to enhance its degradation effect. In a mixed system of water and acetonitrile, the efficiency of the electrochemical filtration device loaded with the modified electrode for degrading OMC is 1.54 times that at room temperature. The experimental results confirmed the superiority and application prospects of the self-designed treatment scheme for organic pollutants, providing experience and a reference for the future treatment of PPCP pollution.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/15/4077carbon nanotubesbimetallic modificationelectrochemical filtrationpolyisophthalamideoctyl methoxycinnamate
spellingShingle Lu Yu
Jun Zeng
Xiu Fan
Fengxiang Li
Tao Hua
Reducing Energy Penalty in Wastewater Treatment: Fe-Cu-Modified MWCNT Electrodes for Low-Voltage Electrofiltration of OMC
Energies
carbon nanotubes
bimetallic modification
electrochemical filtration
polyisophthalamide
octyl methoxycinnamate
title Reducing Energy Penalty in Wastewater Treatment: Fe-Cu-Modified MWCNT Electrodes for Low-Voltage Electrofiltration of OMC
title_full Reducing Energy Penalty in Wastewater Treatment: Fe-Cu-Modified MWCNT Electrodes for Low-Voltage Electrofiltration of OMC
title_fullStr Reducing Energy Penalty in Wastewater Treatment: Fe-Cu-Modified MWCNT Electrodes for Low-Voltage Electrofiltration of OMC
title_full_unstemmed Reducing Energy Penalty in Wastewater Treatment: Fe-Cu-Modified MWCNT Electrodes for Low-Voltage Electrofiltration of OMC
title_short Reducing Energy Penalty in Wastewater Treatment: Fe-Cu-Modified MWCNT Electrodes for Low-Voltage Electrofiltration of OMC
title_sort reducing energy penalty in wastewater treatment fe cu modified mwcnt electrodes for low voltage electrofiltration of omc
topic carbon nanotubes
bimetallic modification
electrochemical filtration
polyisophthalamide
octyl methoxycinnamate
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/15/4077
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