Optimization and application of TiO2/Ti-Pt photo fuel cell (PFC) to effectively generate electricity and degrade organic pollutants simultaneously

- A PFC was established to generate electricity and degrade pollutants simultaneously.
- The influences of calcination temperature and dissolved oxygen were investigated.
- The photo quantum yield and PC degradation efficiency were also enhanced in PFC.
- Real textile wastewaters were also utilized as fuel without electrolyte addition.
- The electricity generated by PFC was employed as bias voltage in a PEC reactor.

A TiO2/Ti-Pt photo fuel cell (PFC) was established to generate electricity and degrade organic pollutants simultaneously. The electricity generation was optimized through investigation the influences of photoanode calcination temperature and dissolve oxygen on the resistances existing in PFC. TiO2 light quantum yield was also improved in PFC which resulted in a higher PC degradation efficiency. Two kinds of real textile wastewaters were also employed in this PFC system, 62.4% and 50.0% Coulombic efficiency were obtained for 8 h treatment. These refractory wastewaters with high salinity may become good fuels in PFC because a) TiO2 has no selectivity and can degrade nearly any organic substance, b) no more electrolyte is needed due to the high salinity, c) the energy in wastes can be recovered to generate electricity. The electricity generated by the PFC was further applied on a TiO2/Ti rotating disk photoelectrocatalytic reactor. A bias voltage between 0.6 and 0.75 V could be applied and the PC degradation efficiency was significantly improved. This result was similar with that obtained by a 0.7 V DC power.

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