Degradation of Organic Pollutants in a Photoelectrocatalytic System Enhanced by a Microbial Fuel Cell

作者：Yuan Shi Jie; Sheng Guo Ping^*; Li Wen Wei; Lin Zhi Qi; Zeng Raymond J; Tong Zhong Hua; Yu Han Qing

来源：Environmental Science & Technology, 2010, 44(14): 5575-5580.

DOI：10.1021/es101317z

Photocatalytic oxidation mediated by TiO(2) is a promising oxidation process for degradation of organic pollutants, but suffers from the decreased photocatalytic efficiency attributed to the recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes. Thus, a cost-effective supply of external electrons is an effective way to elevate the photocatalytic efficiency. Here we report a novel bioelectrochemical system to effectively reduce p-nitrophenol as a model organic pollutant with utilization of the energy derived from a microbial fuel cell. In such a system, there is a synergetic effect between the electrochemical and photocatalytic oxidation processes. Kinetic analysis shows that the system exhibits a more rapid p-nitrophenol degradation at a rate two times the sum of rates by the individual photocatalytic and electrochemical methods. The system performance is influenced by both external resistor and electrolyte concentration. Either a lower external resistor or a lower electrolyte concentration results in a higher p-nitrophenol degradation rate. This system has a potential for the effective degradation of refractory organic pollutants and provides a new way for utilization of the energy generated from conversion of organic wastes by microbial fuel cells.

• 出版日期2010-7-15
• 单位中国科学技术大学