Effective electrocatalytic hydrodechlorination of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol by a novel Pd/MnO_(2)/Ni foam cathode

Pd modified electrodes possess problems such as easy agglomeration and low electrolytic ability,and the use of manganese dioxide(MnO_(2)) to facilitate Pd reduction of organic pollutants is just started.However,there is still a limited understanding of how to match the Pd load and MnO_(2) to realize optimal dechlorination efficiency at minimum cost.Here,a Pd/MnO_(2)/Ni foam cathode was successfully fabricated and applied for the efficient electrochemical dechlorination of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol(2,4,6-TCP).The optimal electrocatalytic hydrodechlorination(ECH)performance with 2,4,6-TCP dechlorination efficiency(92.58%in 180 min)was obtained when the concentration of PdCl_(2) precipitation was 1 mmol/L,the deposition time of MnO_(2) was 300 s and cathode potential was-0.8 V.Performance influenced by the exogenous factors(e.g.,initial pH and coexisted ions)were further investigated.It was found that the neutral pH was the most favorable for ECH and a reduction in dechlorination efficiency(6%~47.6%)was observed in presence of 5 mmol/L of NO_(2)^(-),NO_(3)^(-),S^(2-)or SO_(3)^(2-).Cyclic voltammetry(CV)and quenching experiments verified the existence of three hydrogen species on Pd surface,including adsorbed atomic hydrogen(H^(*)_(ads)),absorbed atomic hydrogen(H^(*)_(abs)),and molecular hydrogen(H_(2)).And the introduction of MnO_(2)promoted the generation of atomic H^(*).Only adsorbed atomic hydrogen(H^(*)_(ads)) was confirmed that it truly facilitated the ECH process.Besides H^(*)_(ads) induced reduction,the direct reduction by cathode electrons also participated in the 2,4,6-TCP dechlorination process.Pd/MnO_(2)/Ni foam cathode shows excellent dechlorination performance,fine stability and recyclable potential,which provides strategies for the effective degradation of persistent halogenated organic pollutants in groundwater.