Simultaneous oxidation of 2,4-dichlorophenol and Cu deposition over cuprous phosphide-doped carbon aerogel in the presence of peroxymonosulfate

In the present study, a Cu/P codoped carbon aerogel (Cu/P/CA) was designed as a cathode for the oxidation of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) and Cu deposition synchronously in the presence of peroxymonosulfate (PMS). The Cu/P/CA cathode exhibits a much higher oxidation performance than the bare Cu and Cu/CA cathodes. Redox synergism between P and Cu species enhances the generation of reactive oxygen species and the activation of PMS molecules. In addition, unlike other systems, Cu3+ can be generated on the surface of the Cu/P/CA cathode, which can participate in oxidizing 2,4-DCP. The yield of cathodic deposited metallic Cu was also improved in the Cu/P/CA system due to the redox role of P. The oxidation of 2,4-DCP and Cu deposition using Cu/P/CA was found to be 2.6-fold and 4.5-fold faster than those in the case of Cu/CA, respectively. Importantly, the effectiveness of the Cu/P/CA system is stable at pH values ranging from 3 to 11. The Cu/P/CA system was also applied to purify real industrial wastewater, which achieved satisfactory efficiency and material stability, encouraging its large-scale applicability.