Photoelectrocatalytic degradation of high COD dipterex pesticide by using TiO2/Ni photo electrode

A TiO2 thin film electrode deposited on porous nickel net (TiO2/Ni) was prepared by the sol-gel method, and the surface morphology, crystal structure features and the grain size were characterized by Field emission scan electron microscopy (FESEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The photoelectrocatalytic system was set up using a UV high-pressure mercury lamp as the light source, TiO2 coated on foamed nickel as photo anode, Pt sheet as counter electrode and the pesticide dipterex in synthetic wastewater. Various factors that influence the photoelectrocatalytic decomposition of dipterex pesticide have been studied, such as degradation time, the type of electrolyte, current density, original pH value and different degradation methods. The prepared catalysts were employed to photoelectrocatalytically degrade the pesticide dipterex under UV irradiation, comparing the results with photocatalytic degradation and electrochemical oxidation. The results indicated that under the optimal conditions of 0.02 mol/L NaCl as the supporting electrolyte, current density = 2.5 mA/cm2, pH 6.0 and dipterex pesticide 40 mg/L, and reaction time 2 hr, dipterex chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal rate and organophosphorous conversion of up to 82.6% and 83.5% were achieved, respectively. The method of photoelectrocatalytic degradation is more efficient than photocatalysis and electrochemical oxidation. The possible roles of the electrolytes on the reactions and probable mechanisms were also discussed.