Electrochemical Oxidation Process for Organochlorine Persistent Organic Pollutants removing from aquatic ecosystems – ElectrO-POP

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) represent a major environmental and health threat due to their chemical stability, bioaccumulation potential, and toxicity. Facing the limitations of conventional treatment methods, electro-oxidation emerges as a promising solution but encounters two major obstacles: high energy costs and limited performance of available electrodes. The ElectrO-POP project proposes a significant innovation by developing eco-friendly electrodes based on polysaccharide-synthesized layered double hydroxides (LDHs), combining high performance with environmental sustainability.
These materials offer unique advantages with their tunable lamellar structure providing large active surface area, their low-cost biodegradable composition, and their reactivity with non-toxic crosslinking agents. The synthesis of these LDHs follows a green aqueous approach, avoiding any toxic solvents, while their rigorous characterization through XRD, SEM, and electrochemical analyses enables optimization of their physicochemical properties.
The primary objective is to demonstrate the superior efficiency of these electrodes for complete POP mineralization into CO2 and H2O, through mechanisms combining direct electron transfer and hydroxyl radical production. Testing on real samples aims to validate the process robustness under various environmental conditions. This innovative technology could thus provide a solution that is simultaneously efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly for definitive POP elimination, representing a significant advancement in persistent pollutant treatment.
The success of this project would open important prospects for contaminated water remediation while establishing a new standard for sustainable material development. Through its integrated approach combining green chemistry, materials science, and applied electrochemistry, ElectrO-POP represents a major contribution to solving a pressing environmental challenge.