Superfund Research Program

April 2023

Hot Publication

Northeastern University SRP Center researchers developed a novel system to remove the contaminant p-nitrophenol (PNP) from wastewater. Center Director Akram Alshawabkeh and trainee Patrick Compton led the team.

PNP, a toxic organic compound commonly used in manufacturing and agriculture, can be found in industrial wastewater and is associated with adverse health outcomes, including harmful effects to the nervous system. The contaminant’s chemical characteristics make it hard to break down in the environment, so robust and effective water treatment technologies are needed.

The team designed an electrochemical reactor — a device that uses electricity to facilitate chemical reactions — composed of activated carbon encased in a stainless-steel mesh to remove and degrade PNP from water. When an electrical current flows through the reactor, electrons are transferred between reacting species, generating hydroxyl radicals, a chemical species known for its ability to destroy organic compounds. As wastewater flows through the reactor, activated carbon adsorbs PNP onto its surface, where it is decomposed by the formed hydroxyl radicals.

The system also allows for the carbon to be regenerated after it has been used, making the technology more environmentally friendly and cost effective than traditional remediation approaches, says the team.

The researchers conducted several tests under changing conditions, including water pH and flow rate, contaminant concentration, and the amount of activated carbon used, to fine tune their system and assess its performance. They found that their technology was more effective at removing PNP and could be used over longer periods of time compared to traditional methods, such as using activated carbon alone.

According to the authors, their technology holds great promise for removing organic contaminants, as well as contaminant mixtures, from wastewater efficiently and without the need for extensive maintenance of the system.

To learn more, please refer to the following sources:

  • Compton P, Dehkordi NR, Sarrouf S, Ehsan MF, Alshawabkeh AN. 2023. In-situ electrochemical synthesis of H2O2 for p-nitrophenol degradation utilizing a flow-through three-dimensional activated carbon cathode with regeneration capabilities. Electrochim Acta 441:141798. doi:10.1016/j.electacta.2022.141798 PMID:36874445 PMCID:PMC9983606