Biomass carbon aerogel modified cathodes for high-efficiency removal of Roxithromycin in water by electro-Fenton method

The present study investigates the fabrication of carbon aerogel, utilising corn stover as a primary constituent by employing the freeze-drying-carbonization method for the purpose of modifying cathode materials for the electro-Fenton method. The experimental study investigated the removal of a pharmaceutical substance, roxithromycin, using carbonation temperature and current intensity as the independent variables. The research findings demonstrated that carbon aerogel electrodes, subjected to different carbonization temperatures, possess a distinctive three-dimensional mesh architecture. Furthermore, it was observed that both the degree of graphitization and the presence of unsaturated carbon structures within the material intensified as the carbonization temperature was elevated. Under optimal experimental conditions (10 mA/cm2 electrical density and 600℃ carbonisation temperature), the removal rate of roxithromycin reached 75.06%. This research offers innovative concepts and techniques for harnessing organic remediation using the electro-Fenton process.