Journal of New Materials for Electrochemical Systems 20, 007-012 (2017) © J. New Mat. Electrochem. Systems Preparation of Ti/TiO2 Anode for Electrochemical Oxidation of Toxic Priority Pollutants Asim Yaqub1, Mohamed Hasnain Isa2, Huma Ajab3,*, and Muhammad Junaid4 1Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology Abbottabad, KPK Pakistan 2Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Bandar Seri Iskandar 32610, Perak, Malaysia 3Department of Chemistry, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology Abbottabad, Pakistan 4Computer Sciences Department, University of Haripur, KPK Pakistan Received: October 13, 2016, Accepted: January 15, 2017, Available online: April 23, 2017 Abstract: In present study, Ti/TiO2 anodes were prepared in laboratory for degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons considered as priority pollutants because of their carcinogenetic properties. PAHs were electrochemically oxidized under galvanostatic conditions using TiO2 coated Ti anode. A synthetic solution containing 16 priority PAHs were prepared in the lab. Surface morphology showed cracked mud structure of coated Ti/TiO2 surface. All the PAHs were efficiently oxidized and degraded from solution. About 96.87% of ƩPAHs were removed in five hours from the bulk solution. The results showed the potential of electrochemical process with Ti/TiO2 anode as a possible and reliable technique for the degradation of PAHs in water. Keywords: Electrochemical; degradation; Ti-TiO2; PAHs PAHs displaying acute carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic properties. Benzo[a]pyrene is recognized as a priority pollutant by Polycyclic Aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are present as pollu- the US Environmental Protection Agency [6] as this compound is tants in air, soil and water. They originate from two main sources known to be one of the most potently carcinogenic of all known natural (biogenic and geochemical) and anthropogenic. PAHs PAHs [7]. naturally occur in fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum, but are PAHs are often resistant to biological degradation and are not also formed during the incomplete combustion of organic materi- efficiently removed. Therefore, carcinogenicity and toxicity is still als such as coal, diesel, wood and vegetation [1, 2]. This results in a concern with regards to effluents treated by conventional meth- airborne PAH contamination, which is the main route for PAH ods. Aerobic biodegradation of low molecular weight PAHs transport over long distances [3]. by bacteria and microorganisms has been documented by various More than 160 PAHs have been characterized in nature, howev- authors, but high-molecular weight PAHs (with five or six aro- er only sixteen has been classified as priority pollutants by the matic rings) have proven to be more recalcitrant to biological deg- USEPA due to their toxic properties [4]. Characteristics of the 16 radation [8]. priority pollutants are listed in Table 1. Electrochemical oxidation is one of the advanced treatment It has long been known that PAHs can have serious deleterious systems that have drawn significant attention in wastewater treat- effects on human health [5] with the physician John Hill first rec- ment research because of its compatibility, small space require- ognizing the link between the use of snuff and nasal cancer in ment, and powerful oxidation ability [9, 10]. Electrochemistry 1761 [5]. Following this discovery, research into the toxic effects offers different oxidation pathways; direct electrolysis, electro- that PAHs have upon mammalian health has continued, with many chemical oxygen transfer reaction and indirect mediated oxidation processes through formation of oxidants. *To whom correspondence should be addressed: Email: [email protected] In the electrochemical treatment of wastewater containing or- 7 8 ganic pollutants, the most important element is the anodic material the electrodes in the present study. Titanium is a metal with unique [11]. The electrode material must have high electro-catalytic activi- features such as high strength and durability, anticorrosion, high ty towards the electrochemical oxidation of organics to CO2 and conductivity and easiness for treatment. It is the most reliable and H2O [12]. In addition, this process depends on the activity of coat- widely used support metal of electrodes for semi-conductive metal ing materials on the electrodes. In recent studies transition metals oxide coating. Ti-based electrodes are commonly employed in oxides such as IrO2 [13, 14], RuO2 [15] and Ti/Pt [16] have shown electrochemical applications, including water and wastewater treat- good efficiency in electrochemical oxidation of organic pollutants. ment [17, 18]. High over-potential metal oxides anodes for oxygen Titanium was selected as the base material/substrate for making evolution are relatively cheap and easy to manufacture. Nanostruc- Table 1. Characteristics of PAHs [13]. Chemical for- No. of Benzene Solubility MCL* PAHs Nomenclature Mol. Wt Structure mula rings (µMoles /L) (µMoles /L) Naphthalene Nph C10H8 128.1 2 247.65 - Acenaphthylene Acy C12H8 152.2 3 25.85 - Acenaphthene Ace C12H10 154.2 3 12.53 - Fluorene Flr C13H10 166.2 3 11.02 - Phenanthrene Phn C H 178.2 3 6.74 14 10 - Anthracene Ant C14H10 178.2 3 0.42 - Fluoranthene Fln C16H10 202.2 4 1.14 - Pyrene Pyr C H 202.2 4 0.38 16 10 - -3 Benz(a)anthracene BaA C18H12 228.2 4 0.04 0.44 x 10 -3 Chrysene CHR C18H12 228.2 4 0.008 0.87 x 10 -3 Benzo(b)fluoranthene BbF C20H12 252.3 5 0.006 0.79 x 10 -3 Benzo(k) fluoranthene BkF C20H12 252.3 5 0.006 0.79 x 10 -3 Benzo(a)pyrene BaP C20H12 252.3 5 0.0063 0.79 x 10 -3 Indeno(1,2,3-cd) pyrene INP C22H12 276.3 6 0.224 0.14 x 10 -3 Dibenz (a,h) anthracene dBA C22H14 278.3 5 0.002 0.11 x 10 Benzo (g,h,i) perylene BghiP C22H12 276.3 6 0.001 - *Maximum Contaminant Level: US EPA. Standards and Regulations for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) S1 33 9 32 31 30 29 28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17 16 15 Lin (Counts) Lin 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 21 30 40 2-Theta - Scale S1 - File: S1.raw - Type: 2Th/Th locked - Start: 20.000 ° - End: 60.000 ° 72-2101 (C) - Titanium Oxide - Ti3O5 - Y: 50.00 % - d x by: 1. - WL: 1. 1) S1 - Left Angle: 24.560 ° - Right Angle: 26.000 ° - Left Int.: 2.61 Cps 46-1238 (N) - Titanium Oxide - beta-TiO2 - Y: 50.00 % - d x by: 1. - WL Operations: Background 0.000,1.000 | Fourier 3.662 x 1 | Strip kAlpha2 74-1940 (C) - Titanium Oxide - TiO2 - Y: 50.00 % - d x by: 1. - WL: 1.5 01-0562 (D) - Anatase - TiO2 - Y: 50.00 % - d x by: 1. - WL: 1.5406 - T 46-1237 (N) - Titanium Oxide - beta-TiO2 - Y: 50.00 % - d x by: 1. - WL 89-4921 (C) - Anatase, syn - TiO2 - Y: 50.00 % - d x by: 1. - WL: 1.540 02-0406 (D) - Anatase - TiO2 - Y: 50.00 % - d x by: 1. - WL: 1.5406 - T 78-2486 (C) - Anatase, syn - TiO2 - Y: 50.00 % - d x by: 1. - WL: 1.540 02-0387 (D) - Anatase - TiO2 - Y: 50.00 % - d x by: 1. - WL: 1.5406 - T 65-1156 (C) - Titanium Oxide - TiO2 - Y: 50.00 % - d x by: 1. - WL: 1.5 Figure 1. XRD spectra of coated Ti/TiO2 anode. Table 2. Experimental conditions for Electrochemical oxidation of ture semiconductor thin-film electrodes of Ti/TiO2 are character- PAHs. ized by electrochemical stability and large internal surface areas which results in higher efficiency during degradation of organic Surface Area of Anode Electrodes Distance Current Time pH compounds [19]. Ti/TiO anode is used for the time in this study for PAHs degra- (Units) 2 dation. No literature or study was found on the subject previously 2 2 cm cm mA/cm hours using Ti/TiO2 anode. 6 2 4 5 3 10 Figure 3. EDAX Spectra for elemental composition of Ti/TiO2 anode surface. ml beaker, one anode (Ti/TiO2) and one cathode (Titanium Plate) connected to DC power supply. Synthetic solution of PAHs was used in all experiments. The experimental conditions are given in Table 2. Coating or precursor solution was prepared from the analytical grade reagents: acetic acid (AA), ethylene-glycol (EG), Titanium (IV) chloride TiCl4 purchased from Merck. TiCl4 was dissolved in AA and EG in ratios of AA: EG: TiCl4 (2mL: 10mL: 2mL). Rectangular Ti plates (80 mm × 10 mm × 2 mm) were used for TiO2 coating. The Ti plates were smoothened with 320-grit sandpaper and washed with distilled water. To remove oxides from the surface, the Ti plates were etched in 18 % HCl for 30 min at 80 °C followed by a thorough washing with deionized water [15]. Variable Pressure Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (VP-FESEM) was used for surface morphology recognition and EDAX (Energy Dispersive Analysis of X Rays) of coating materi- al. X-Ray Diffraction pattern was used for the crystalline structure identification of the coated surface. GC-MS was used for the detec- tion and quantification of PAHs. Analysis was performed using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectroscopy. Column used for GC- MS analysis having length of 30 m and 0.25 µm film thickness was used. The oven temperature was increased from 60 to 175˚C at 6˚C/min, further increased at a rate of 3˚C/min until 240˚C and finally held at 300˚C for 7 min. Injector and transfer line tempera- tures were 280 and 300˚C, respectively [13, 14]. Data acquisition was carried out in the selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode. Each PAH was separately quantified using a five- Figure 2. FESEM images of Ti/TiO2 anode surface at different point calibration of mixed standard solutions in the range from 1 × magnifications (a) 1.00 KX, (b) 10.00 KX and (c) 50.00 KX.