Bio-Electron-Fenton (BEF) process driven by microbial fuel cells for triphenyltin chloride (TPTC) degradation

Schematic diagram of the Bio-Electron-Fenton (BEF) process for TPTC degradation. [Display omitted] •A Bio-Electro-Fenton process was performed for TPTC degradation.•TPTC removal efficiency achieved 78.32±2.07% within 100h.•The TPTC degradation rate (0.775±0.021μmolL−1h−1) was much higher than previous reports. The intensive use of triphenyltin chloride (TPTC) has caused serious environmental pollution. In this study, an effective method for TPTC degradation was proposed based on the Bio-Electron-Fenton process in microbial fuel cells (MFCs). The maximum voltage of the MFC with graphite felt as electrode was 278.47% higher than that of carbon cloth. The electricity generated by MFC can be used for in situ generation of H2O2 to a maximum of 135.96μmolL−1 at the Fe@Fe2O3(*)/graphite felt composite cathode, which further reacted with leached Fe2+ to produce hydroxyl radicals. While 100μmolL−1 TPTC was added to the cathodic chamber, the degradation efficiency of TPTC reached 78.32±2.07%, with a rate of 0.775±0.021μmolL−1h−1. This Bio-Electron-Fenton driving TPTC degradation might involve in SnC bonds breaking and the main process is probably a stepwise dephenylation until the formation of inorganic tin and CO2. This study provides an energy saving and efficient approach for TPTC degradation.