Electrocatalytic degradation of oxytetracycline using three-dimensional electrode and optimization via fuzzy logic modeling

The present paper focuses on a hybrid system combining electrochemical oxidation (EO) and activated carbon (AC) adsorption in a concept known as three-dimensional (3D) electrocatalytic technology for the treatment of oxytetracycline from aqueous solution; the conventional one-factor-at-a-time variation approach (AC dosage, OTC concentration, and current density) was used for determining the effects of operating parameters on the 3D electrochemical process and optimized via fuzzy logic modeling. The process’s superior performance was assessed based on comparative studies of the degradation efficiency of the 3D electrochemical process with AC adsorption and conventional 2D electrochemical process. The study showed that the AC particle electrode enhanced the performance of the 3D system by up to 21% in terms of OTC degradation efficiency compared to both adsorption and the conventional two-dimensional (2D) electrochemical system. When 2D and 3D processes were compared in required energy and electricity budgets, 3D electrode process with 0.75 g/L activated carbon requires 27.60 kWh/m³ and it perceived 2 times lower than 2D process; accordingly, the electricity budget is €5.38 and €2.81 for electrooxidation and 3D electrode process, respectively. The obtained results suggest that under the electric field, polarized AC worked as both adsorbent and a catalyst in the 3D electrochemical system, enhancing subsequently the decomposition of electro-generated H₂O₂ to more hydroxyl radicals (·OH) and promote the capacity of OTC mineralization.