Studies of Several Systems with Air Electrode Electro-Synthesizing H2O2 on the Spot for Degrading Aniline in Aqueous

A gas diffusion electrode (air electrode) with a high current efficiency of electro-synthesizing H2O2 using O2 in air was prepared. The several systems with air electrode as cathode of electro-synthesizing H2O2 on the reaction spot for degrading aniline in aqueous—electro-Fenton system, photo-excitation electro-H2O2 system and photo-electro-Fenton system, were developed. The rates of decomposition of H2O2 and mineralization of aniline were experimentally measured respectively under different conditions, and the results indicated there has an excellent parallel relation between decomposition rate of H2O2 and mineralization rate of aniline. Especially, photo-electro-Fenton system, where H2O2 is decomposed the fastest, is the best system of oxidizing and degrading organic toxicants. Compared photo-electro-Fenton system with photo-Fenton system, important role is revealed in the interface of air electrode. In this paper, the mineralization mechanism of aniline in the photo-electro-Fenton system was also discussed.