Production of Hydrogen Peroxide By Oxygen Reduction in a FM01-LC Reactor for Electro-Fenton Process. Experimental Characterization and Numerical Simulation

The electro-Fenton process is based on the continuous in situ electrogeneration of H₂O₂, which with the addition of iron catalysts produce a powerful oxidant ˙OH typically employed to incinerate persistent organic pollutants [1,2]. In this communication we studied the cathodic reduction of oxygen to produce hydrogen peroxide on tridimensional graphite felt and reticulated vitreous carbon used as cathodes under acidic conditions pH=3. The filter-press FM01-LC cell was used as a test reactor. Polarization curves in both carbonaceous electrodes revealed that hydrogen peroxide formation occurs between -0.385 and -0.585 V vs. SHE. The influence of current density and flow rate on the hydrogen peroxide formation in the FM01-LC cell was experimentally characterized. A 3D dispersion model was developed using CFD simulations employing Brinkman equations in porous mediawhich were included in the mass transport and electrode potential balance. The numerical simulation of hydrogen peroxide production in terms of current density and flow rate are in good agreement with the experimentally obtained in both electrodes.

[1] L. Zhou, Z. Hu, Ch. Zhang, Z. Bi, T. Jin, M. Zhou. Sep. Purf. Technol. 111 (2013) 131.

[2] B. R. Garza-Camposa, J. L. Guzmán-Mara, L. H. Reyesa, E. Brillas, A. Hernández-Ramíreza, E. J. Ruiz-Ruiz. Chemosphere 97 (2014) 26.