Y-mediated optimization of 3DG-PbO(2) anode for electrochemical degradation of PFOS

In our previous study, the three-dimensional graphene-modified PbO(2) (3DG-PbO(2)) anode was prepared for the effective degradation of perfluorooctanesulfonat (PFOS) by the electrochemical oxidation process. However, the mineralization efficiency of PFOS at the 3DG-PbO(2) anode still needs to be further improved due to the recalcitrance of PFOS. Thus, in this study, the yttrium (Y) was doped into the 3DG-PbO(2) film to further improve the electrochemical activity of the PbO(2) anode. To optimize the doping amount of Y, three Y and 3DG codoped PbO(2) anodes were fabricated with different Y(3+) concentrations of 5, 15, and 30 mM in the electroplating solution, which were named Y/3DG-PbO(2)-5, Y/3DG-PbO(2)-15 and Y/3DG-PbO(2)-30, respectively. The results of morphological, structural, and electrochemical characterization revealed that doping Y into the 3DG-PbO(2) anode further refined the β-PbO(2) crystals, increased the oxygen evolution overpotential and active sites, and reduced the electron transfer resistance, resulting in a superior electrocatalytic activity. Among all the prepared anodes, the Y/3DG-PbO(2)-15 anode exhibited the best activity for electrochemical oxidation of PFOS. After 120 min of electrolysis, the TOC removal efficiency was 80.89% with Y/3DG-PbO(2)-15 anode, greatly higher than 69.13% with 3DG-PbO(2) anode. In addition, the effect of operating parameters on PFOS removal was analyzed by response surface, and the obtained optimum values of current density, initial PFOS concentration, pH, and Na(2)SO(4) concentration were 50 mA/cm(2), 12.21 mg/L, 5.39, and 0.01 M, respectively. Under the optimal conditions, the PFOS removal efficiency reached up to 97.16% after 40 min of electrolysis. The results of the present study confirmed that the Y/3DG-PbO(2) was a promising anode for electrocatalytic oxidation of persistent organic pollutants. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13065-023-01057-3.