Comparison of hydroxyl radical yields between photo- and electro-catalyzed water treatments

Abstract

In this study, we investigate the production of hydroxyl radicals in photo- and electro-catalytic systems. A model compound, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (4-HBA), served as a trapping (scavenger) reagent for the determination of hydroxyl radical (OH) concentrations in both systems. Experiments were conducted by controlling different operation parameters (i.e., reaction time, electrolyte, applied voltage, power, and solution pH) to understand their respective impact on OH production. The results show that a number of similar characteristics exist between the photo- and electro-catalytic systems, including the electrolytes Na2SO4 and NaNO3, which are both suitable for photo- and electro-catalysis and..