Methanol Electro-Oxidation on Carbon-Supported PtRu Nanowires.

One of the key objectives in fuel cell technology is to improve the alcohol oxidation efficiency of Pt-based catalysts. A series of carbon-supported PtRu nanowires with different concentrations of Pt and Ru were prepared for application in methanol oxidation in acid media. The physicochemical properties and electrocatalytic activity of these catalysts during methanol oxidation are function on their structure, morphology and composition. A Pt60Ru40/C catalyst shows the best behaviour towards methanol electro-oxidation allowing decrease the onset potential approximately 0.2 V respect to others PtRu/C synthesised nanowires. The structural modification of Pt by Ru and synergetic character of RuPt are main factors that could contribute to reduction of energy necessary for electro-oxidation process. The Pt and PtRu nanowires have different sizes and distribution on the substrate. The average crystallite sizes, found by XRD, are in the 4.6-5.9 nm range and the lattice parameter is between 0.3903-0.3908 nm. Small differences with the values of the Pt/C catalyst were found. The XPS results show a prevailing presence of metallic Pt and Ru4+ species.

Electrochemical degradation of a real textile effluent using boron-doped diamond or ß-PbO2 as anode.

Constant current electrolyses are carried out in a filter-press reactor using a boron-doped diamond (Nb/BDD) or a Ti-Pt/ß-PbO(2) anode, varying current density (j) and temperature. The degradation of the real textile effluent is followed by its decolorization and chemical oxygen demand (COD) abatement. The effect of adding NaCl (1.5 g L(-1)) on the degradation of the effluent is also investigated. The Nb/BDD anode yields much higher decolorization (attaining the DFZ limit) and COD-abatement rates than the Ti-Pt/ß-PbO(2) anode, at any experimental condition. The best conditions are j = 5 mA cm(-2) and 55 °C, for the system's optimized hydrodynamic conditions. The addition of chloride ions significantly increases the decolorization rate; thus a decrease of more than 90% of the effluent relative absorbance is attained using an applied electric charge per unit volume of the electrolyzed effluent (Q(ap)) of only about 2 kA h m(-3). Practically total abatement of the effluent COD is attained with the Nb/BDD anode using a Q(ap) value of only 7 kA h m(-3), with an energy consumption of about 30 kW h m(-3). This result allows to conclude that the Nb/BDD electrode might be an excellent option for the remediation of textile effluents.