Enhancing Fe-C micro-electrolysis by coupling MF with electrolyte solution: Mechanism and application

[Display omitted] •Electrolyte promotes Fe-C micro-electrolysis reaction.•MF reduces the internal resistance of Fe-C during micro-electrolysis reaction.•MF promotes the accumulation of electrolyte ions on the Fe-C surface.•Coupling of MF and electrolyte promotes corrosion of Fe-C materials and releases Fe2+.•The Fe-C process has good applicability in the treatment of mixed saline wastewater. In this study, Fe-C micro-electrolysis rate enhancement was accomplished by a coupled magnetic field (MF) and Electrolyte solution. The rate of micro-electrolysis of Fe-C materials in pure water solution, NaCl solution, NaH2PO4 solution and Al2(SO4)3 solution in the presence of MF was increased by 1.8–6.8 times, and the removal rate of saline organic wastewater was increased by 1.5–4.7 times. The results show that coupling MF with a electrolyte enhances the process of Fe-C micro-electrolysis, and indicates the possible reaction mechanism. SEM and XRD analysis showed that both the electrolyte solution and MF promoted the corrosion of Fe-C materials and accelerated the dissolution of Fe2+. The EDX-mapping results confirmed that MF promotes the accumulation of electrolyte ions on the surface of Fe-C materials. Electrochemical workstation testing showed that the promotion effect of MF in different solutions was different. In addition, MF also enhances the electrolyte activity, reduces the corrosion resistance of Fe-C materials, and improves the local current of Fe-C micro-electrolysis. Moreover, the MF/Fe-C/H2O2 process has good applicability in the treatment of mixed inorganic salt wastewater, and the treatment of saline organic wastewater is more economical and efficient.