Effective Electro-Activation Process of Hydrogen Peroxide/Peroxydisulfate Induced by Atomic Hydrogen for Rapid Oxidation of Norfloxacin over the Carbon-Based Pd Nanocatalyst

Peroxydisulfate (PDS) can be activated by electrochemistry, for which using atom H* as an activator is feasibly favorable in theoretical and experimental applications. Studies have shown that atomic H* can cleave the peroxide bond as a single-electron reducing agent in Na 2 S 2 O 8 to generate SO 4 •− , thus achieving the degradation of pollutants. Herein, Pd nanoparticles synthesized by in an in situ solution were dispersed in carbon black and then loaded on carbon felt, called Pd/C@CF, as the cathode for peroxydisulfate activation. This showed an ideal degradation effect on a small electrode (10 mm × 10 mm). Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) tests were taken to verify the significant increase in the yield of the reduction of Na 2 S 2 O 8 by H*. The degradation experiments and free-radical scavenging experiment confirmed that the atomic H* was the dominant component triggering the activation of PDS to generate SO 4 •− . A Pd/C@CF composite electrodes have low pH dependence, high stability and recyclability, etc., which has many potential practical applications in wastewater treatment. In addition, H* can also reduce H 2 O 2 to •OH by breaking the peroxide bond, so the removal of pollutants by the same amount of H 2 O 2 and Na 2 S 2 O 8 under the same conditions is compared, and their application prospects are analyzed and compared.