Electrocatalytic degradation of Favipiravir by heteroatom (P and S) doped biomass-derived carbon with high oxygen reduction reaction activity.

A novel spent coffee grounds biomass carbon block (SCC) with heteroatoms (P and S) doped graphene structure was firstly successfully synthesized which showed high oxygen reduction reaction activity. It represented high degradation performance and cycle stability as electrocatalytic block electrode for degradation of Favipiravir,. [Display omitted] • Heteroatoms P and S doped biomass carbon block with graphene structure was firstly prepared. • The biomass carbon block acts as electrocatalytic electrode with oxygen reduction reaction activity. • The biomass carbon block electrode represents high performance and cycle stability for degradation of Favipiravir. • The biomass carbon electrocatalytic system has realized the recycle and utilization of biomass resources. In this study, a biomass-derived carbon block with heteroatoms (P and S) self-doped graphene structure was successfully synthesized by spent coffee grounds (SCG) directly sintered method. The spent coffee grounds biomass-derived carbon (SCC) block was used as electrocatalytic electrode to effectively degrade the antiviral drug of Favipiravir (FAV) in water, which represented excellent oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity with the H2O2 production. The doped heteroatoms in the graphene structure of SCC provided many active sites in the electrocatalytic electrode for ORR as well as more production of reactive OH･. Based on the structural characterization, radical species identification and intermediate products analysis, the reaction mechanism of FAV degradation by the SCC block electrode was proposed. This catalytic system also showed high ecological safety that the ecological toxicity for Vibrio fischeri was significantly reduced with the degradation process of FAV. The degradation of FAV in recycle test and in real sample of lake water, well water, tap water all demonstrated high stability of structure and catalytic activity of SCC. The electrocatalytic system based on SCC block electrode has realized the recycling and utilization of biomass resources and has promising application on the removal of environmental pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]