Rhodium-catalyzed electrochemical hydrodefluorination: A mild approach for the degradation of fluoroaromatic pollutants

•We developed a new Rh-catalyzed electrochemical hydrodefluorination (HDF) system.•Cathode material and solution pH were optimized with 4-fluorophenol as the substrate.•The HDF system realized the rapid degradation of 18 fluoroaromatics (FAs).•This study provides a new promising alternative for the treatment of FA pollutants.

Many fluoroorganic compounds are toxic and persistent, and achieving their efficient degradation under mild conditions is currently a challenge. Herein, we developed a new electrochemical hydrodefluorination (HDF) system based on rhodium electrocatalyst for the degradation of fluoroaromatic (FA) pollutants. The HDF system realized the rapid degradation of 18 representative FAs to form nonfluorinated organics and F− under mild conditions (room temperature and pressure, water medium, air atmosphere, without the use of hazardous reagents). This study may provide a new promising alternative for the practical treatment of waste water containing FA pollutants.

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