Bio-Electron-Fenton (BEF) process driven by microbial fuel cells for triphenyltin chloride (TPTC) degradation

The intensive use of triphenyltin chloride (TPTC) has caused serious environmental pollution. In this study, an effective method for TPTC degradation was proposed based on the Bio-Electron-Fenton process in microbial fuel cells (MFCs). The maximum voltage of the MFC with graphite felt as electrode was 278.47% higher than that of carbon cloth. The electricity generated by MFC can be used for in situ generation of H₂O₂ to a maximum of 135.96 μmol L⁻¹ at the Fe@Fe₂O_3(*)/graphite felt composite cathode, which further reacted with leached Fe²⁺ to produce hydroxyl radicals. While 100 μmol L⁻¹ TPTC was added to the cathodic chamber, the degradation efficiency of TPTC reached 78.32 ± 2.07%, with a rate of 0.775 ± 0.021 μmol L⁻¹ h⁻¹. This Bio-Electron-Fenton driving TPTC degradation might involve in Sn[sbnd]C bonds breaking and the main process is probably a stepwise dephenylation until the formation of inorganic tin and CO₂. This study provides an energy saving and efficient approach for TPTC degradation.