Fabrication of reduced graphene oxide-graphite paste electrode for H2O2 formation and its implication for ciprofloxacin degradation

A multilayer reduced graphene oxide (rGO)-impregnated graphite electrode was fabricated to improve the production efficiency of H2O2. Graphene oxide was prepared using the improved Hummer's method and, it was then reduced to multilayer rGO using hydrazine hydrate. The XRD peak at 2θ = 24.1° and, the Raman shift with D, G and low-intensity 2D bands at 1333, 1591 and 2641 cm−1, respectively, confirmed the formation of multilayered rGO structure. The performance of the electrode was tested through cyclic voltammetry and H2O2 generation studies at different pH. H2O2 generation was about 22.41 mg/L in 60 min of electrolysis using the graphite/rGO-graphite (anode/cathode combination) system. The cell current efficiency was 15.54% more using the rGO-modified electrode as compared to the graphite cathode. The degradation potential of electro-generated H2O2 was tested for ciprofloxacin, an antibiotic drug, during electro-Fenton and UVA/H2O2 oxidation processes in an undivided cell.