Electrochemical degradation of 4-chlorophenol using Ti-Sb-Sn catalysts: A study of rotating disc electrode and two-chamber cell systems

This study investigates the electrochemical degradation of 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) using Ti-based electrodes modified with antimony and tin (Sb-Sn) catalysts, evaluated through both a two-chamber electrochemical cell system and a Rotating Disk Electrode (RDE) setup. In the two-chamber system, Ti sheets coated with Sb-Sn via a hydrothermal method were compared to uncoated Ti sheets for their ability to remove low concentrations (25 mg/L) of 4-CP. The results demonstrated a significant improvement in performance, with the coated electrode achieving a Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) removal efficiency of 67.44%, compared to only 38.95% for the uncoated Ti sheet. For the RDE experiments, a Ti-Sb-Sn catalyst was synthesized using the co-precipitation method to obtain an active catalyst powder. The synthesized catalyst exhibited strong electrochemical activity for 4-CP degradation, highlighting the effectiveness of the Sb-Sn modification in enhancing oxidation. The improved catalytic performance is attributed to the generation of reactive oxygen species and enhanced oxygen evolution potential provided by the Sb-Sn coating. These findings suggest that Ti-based electrodes modified with Sb-Sn are promising materials for efficient electrochemical treatment of wastewater containing chlorinated organic compounds, particularly at low pollutant concentrations.