Photoelectrochemical cell with Co3O4/BiVO4 photoanode and CoFe2O4 cathode: An efficient persulfate activation system for organic pollutants degradation

The integration of photoelectrochemical (PEC) technology with persulfate-based advanced oxidation processes has emerged as a promising approach for efficient pollutant removal in environmental remediation. Herein, we developed a novel PEC system combining a Co3O4/BiVO4 (CO/BVO) photoanode with a CoFe2O4/carbon paper (CFO/CP) cathode for activating peroxymonosulfate (PMS) toward bisphenol A (BPA) removal. The enhanced photogenerated charge separation in CO/BVO and the PMS activation by CFO/CP in the PEC system enabled complete BPA degradation within 60 minutes under optimized conditions (1.0 V bias, 1.0 mM PMS). The influence of PMS concentration, applied bias, pH, and coexisting anions on BPA degradation was thoroughly investigated. Radical scavenging experiments combined with electron paramagnetic resonance analysis identified center dot SO4-, center dot OH, and photogenerated holes as dominant reactive species. The system also exhibited good stability over five consecutive cycles, with minimal metal ion leaching. This work demonstrates the potential of an efficient PEC system integrated with sulfate radical-based AOPs, offering an innovative approach for organic pollutant remediation in wastewater treatment.