Improving electro-fenton degradation performance using waste biomass-derived-modified biochar electrodes: A real environment textile water treatment

In this study, catalytically efficient biochar electrodes were obtained by pyrolysis and thermal modification from waste biomass. The effect of the gas type, temperature and time on the thermal modification was investigated in the designed Electro-Fenton system. Firstly, the most effective biochar electrode (CO2-700-1 h) was determined by evaluating the TOC, dye removal efficiencies and peroxide production. Then, the process parameters (pH, time, potential, catalyst-electrolyte concentration, electrolyte type) were examined to determine optimum wastewater treatment conditions. In the next step, the economic results of the study were analyzed in the optimum conditions by comparing 3 electrodes. The treatment cost obtained with the CO2-700-1 h was 34.9% and 8.64% lower than the raw biochar (N2-350-4 h) electrode and its nitrogen gas-modified counterpart (N2-700-1 h). Dye and TOC removal efficiency increased up to 2.12 and 4.65 times, respectively. The TOC efficiency of the regenerated electrode decreased by only 9.94% at the end of 10 cycles.