Investigation of copper plates as anode and TiO2/glycine/ZnFe2O4 stabilized on graphite as cathode for textile dyes degradation from aqueous solution under visible light

Abstract

Abstract: This study aimed to degrade the two most commonly used dyes in textile industries, Acid Black 172 and Reactive Blue 19, in pollutant water via Photoelectro-Fenton-like and Photoelectro-Fenton-like/Photocatalyst processes under visible-light irradiation. Graphite and copper plates were used as cathode and anode electrodes, respectively. Suspended TiO2/glycine/ZnFe2O4 photocatalyst was synthesized through the sol–gel method, and the stabilization of TiO2/glycine/ZnFe2O4 photocatalyst on graphite cathode was conducted via dip-coating method. The synthesized photocatalyst was characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflection spectroscopy, photoluminescence, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analyses. Initial dyes concentration, current density, initial pH solution, and irradiation time were investigated by response surface methodology. The results indicated that Acid Black 172 degradation efficiency increased from 72% in Photoelectro-Fenton-like process to 92% in Photoelectro-Fenton-like/immobilized photocatalyst process with 1 g L−1 TiO2/glycine/ZnFe2O4 photocatalyst under the optimal conditions (Acid Black 172 concentration = 200 mg L−1, pH 6.5, irradiation time = 46 min, and current density = 2 mA cm−2). There was also a 15% increase in Reactive Blue 19 degradation efficiency in Photoelectro-Fenton-like/immobilized photocatalyst process using 1 g L−1 TiO2/glycine/ZnFe2O4 photocatalyst under the optimal conditions (Reactive Blue 19 concentration = 196 mg L−1, pH 6.5, irradiation time = 30 min, and current density = 2.7 mA cm−2). Graphic abstract: [MediaObject not available: see fulltext.].s © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.