Efficient removal of ibuprofen by a new electro-peroxone process via OH− separation in non-conductive membrane divided electrolytic cell: Performance and mechanisms

The persistent presence of recalcitrant micropollutants in aquatic environments poses significant environmental challenges. In this study, a porous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane was used to divide the traditional single-chamber Electro-peroxone (EP) process into a dual-chamber configuration (M/EP), and its pollutant degradation performance was systematically investigated. For ibuprofen (IBP) degradation, the M/EP process achieved a kinetic rate constant ( k obs ) of 0.215 min −1 , which is markedly higher than those of the EP process (0.133 min −1 ) under the high alkaline conditions. This can be attributed to the fact that the •OH concentration generated in the M/EP process was 2 times higher than that in the EP process at initial pH 11. Quenching experiments revealed that •OH contributed the most to IBP degradation among the ROS. Meanwhile, the PTFE membrane prevents H 2 O 2 migration and oxidation at the anode, resulting in 3 times higher H 2 O 2 concentration in the cathodic chamber compared with the EP process. The k obs for the degradation of electron-deficient compounds was enhanced by 2.6–3.3 times compared to the EP process, while moderate improvements were also observed for neutral (1.7×) and electron-rich (1.15×) pollutants, along with a notable reduction in EE/O. Furthermore, degradation byproducts were identified via LC-MS to propose potential degradation pathways, and their toxicity was assessed. These findings demonstrate that the M/EP process offers a promising strategy for the degradation of trace organic micropollutants from water.