Development of Electro-Fenton Process for Methylene Blue Degradation using NiFeCo Foam Alloy Cathode and Porous Graphite Anode

Authors

  • Hind H. Thwaini Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq https://orcid.org/0009-0001-0075-9784
  • Rasha H. Salman Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9353-9096
  • Zahraa M. Hameed Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq https://orcid.org/0009-0001-5334-9244
  • Khalid M. Abed Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq & Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology, University Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, Lebuhraya Persiaran Tun Khalil Yaakob, Kuantan, Pahang 26300, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4791-219X
  • Sunarti Abd Rahman Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology, University Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, Lebuhraya Persiaran Tun Khalil Yaakob, Kuantan, Pahang 26300, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0986-5548
  • Wan Jefrey Basirun Nanotechnology and Catalysis Research (NanoCat), Institute of Advanced Studies (IAS), University Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia & Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8050-6113

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.59796/jcst.V16N3.2026.202

Keywords:

foam alloy, analysis of variance, methylene blue, electro-Fenton, hydroxyl radical, RSM

Abstract

The low efficiency of electro-Fenton (EF) technology in generating hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is one of the most frequently encountered obstacles. Thus, the search for high-performance electrodes and reactors is necessary to increase system efficiency. In this study, porous graphite served as the control group to increase oxygen mass transfer in the reactor, while foam alloy was used as the cathode for producing in situ H2O2. X-Ray diffraction analyzer (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were utilized to investigate the microstructure of the electrodes. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to examine the various operational parameters affecting the reduction of methylene blue (MB) dye. A FeSO4.7H2O concentration of 0.5 mM, a current density of 8 mA/cm2, and a reaction time of 30 min were the optimal conditions for the electro-Fenton technique. Under these conditions, the MB removal efficiency (RE%) was 97.73%, and the energy consumption was 11.76 kWh/kg MB. The two most important factors controlling dye reduction in the electro-Fenton process are the FeSO4.7H2O concentration and the current density, which contributed 68.33% and 15.44%, respectively, in this model. The coefficient of multiple correlation (R2) was 99.59%, which demonstrated the statistical significance of the regression analysis. Therefore, the foam alloy electrode represents a new and viable strategy for contaminant degradation in the electro-Fenton process.

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Published

2026-06-25

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Thwaini, H. H., Salman, R. H. ., Hameed , Z. M. ., Abed, K. M. ., Rahman, S. A. ., & Basirun, W. J. (2026). Development of Electro-Fenton Process for Methylene Blue Degradation using NiFeCo Foam Alloy Cathode and Porous Graphite Anode. Journal of Current Science and Technology, 16(3), 202. https://doi.org/10.59796/jcst.V16N3.2026.202

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Vol. 16 No. 3 (2026): July-September

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