Electrogeneration of HO by graphite felt double coated with polytetrafluoroethylene and polydimethylsiloxane.

Efficient and steady electrogeneration of HO is a significant step in the Electro-Fenton water treatment process. This study fabricates a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coated graphite felt cathode with a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) damp-proof coating to generate HO in a flow-through system without an external oxygen supply. We evaluated the effect of PDMS content, current, flow rate, and pH on HO production. PDMS coating inhibits electrowetting to extend the longevity of the modified graphite felt for electrogeneration of HO. However, increasing PDMS content can decrease HO production due to reduction of active sites on the graphite felt. Graphite felt electrodes (surface area = 14.5 cm) coated with 500 mg of PDMS can generate 10 mg/L of HO under a flow rate of 3 mL/min with only 2% production reduction after 24-hour use. This modified graphite felt has better performance in a neutral or alkaline environment than in an acidic condition. Up to 38.5 mg/L of HO will be generated at optimum current (120 mA) at the flow rate of 3 mL/min. Increasing the flow rate decreases the concentration of HO in the electrolyte but enhances total production after 145 mins.