Ultra-fast Joule heating synthesis of homogeneous copper-based bimetallic catalysts for electrochemical nitrate-to-ammonium reduction in wastewater treatment

The conversion of nitrate to ammonia presents a promising solution to reduce the energy consumption and carbon footprint associated with the traditional Haber-Bosch process, while also addressing the environmental impacts of nitrate-containing wastewater. To tackle the challenges in catalyst prepara...

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Main Authors: Su, Jenn Fang, Hoang, Minh-Son, Setiabudi, Herma Dina
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025
Subjects:
Online Access:http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/45060/
http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/45060/1/Ultra-fast%20Joule%20heating%20synthesis%20of%20homogeneous.pdf
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author Su, Jenn Fang
Hoang, Minh-Son
Setiabudi, Herma Dina
author_facet Su, Jenn Fang
Hoang, Minh-Son
Setiabudi, Herma Dina
author_sort Su, Jenn Fang
building UMP Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description The conversion of nitrate to ammonia presents a promising solution to reduce the energy consumption and carbon footprint associated with the traditional Haber-Bosch process, while also addressing the environmental impacts of nitrate-containing wastewater. To tackle the challenges in catalyst preparation for efficient electrochemical nitrate reduction toward ammonium, this study reports an extremely rapid Joule-heating synthetic method to fabricate a series of copper (Cu)-based bimetallic catalysts. The results demonstrate that the Joule-heating process leads to the formation of well-dispersed and homogeneous bimetallic particles as evidenced by the scanning electron microscope (SEM) and corresponding energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), exhibiting an enhanced catalytic activity. Among various samples, the homogeneous copper-nickel (CuNi) catalyst presents an exceptional ammonium selectivity of 98 %, an ammonium yield of 49 %, and an ammonium formation rate of 764 µg h−1 cm−2, which are approximately 2 times higher than Cu monometallic catalyst. This superior activity is attributed to the increased electrochemical active surface area (ECSA) in CuNi materials. Additionally, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) characterization confirms the electronic redistribution within the CuNi structure, revealing a lower oxidation state of Cu, which further contributes to the improved efficiency in the nitrate reduction reaction. Overall, this study enables a new route for the rational design of homogenous bimetallic catalysts in nitrate reduction for wastewater treatment and environmental protection.
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spelling ump-450602025-07-14T03:38:04Z http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/45060/ Ultra-fast Joule heating synthesis of homogeneous copper-based bimetallic catalysts for electrochemical nitrate-to-ammonium reduction in wastewater treatment Su, Jenn Fang Hoang, Minh-Son Setiabudi, Herma Dina QD Chemistry TD Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering TP Chemical technology The conversion of nitrate to ammonia presents a promising solution to reduce the energy consumption and carbon footprint associated with the traditional Haber-Bosch process, while also addressing the environmental impacts of nitrate-containing wastewater. To tackle the challenges in catalyst preparation for efficient electrochemical nitrate reduction toward ammonium, this study reports an extremely rapid Joule-heating synthetic method to fabricate a series of copper (Cu)-based bimetallic catalysts. The results demonstrate that the Joule-heating process leads to the formation of well-dispersed and homogeneous bimetallic particles as evidenced by the scanning electron microscope (SEM) and corresponding energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), exhibiting an enhanced catalytic activity. Among various samples, the homogeneous copper-nickel (CuNi) catalyst presents an exceptional ammonium selectivity of 98 %, an ammonium yield of 49 %, and an ammonium formation rate of 764 µg h−1 cm−2, which are approximately 2 times higher than Cu monometallic catalyst. This superior activity is attributed to the increased electrochemical active surface area (ECSA) in CuNi materials. Additionally, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) characterization confirms the electronic redistribution within the CuNi structure, revealing a lower oxidation state of Cu, which further contributes to the improved efficiency in the nitrate reduction reaction. Overall, this study enables a new route for the rational design of homogenous bimetallic catalysts in nitrate reduction for wastewater treatment and environmental protection. Elsevier 2025 Article PeerReviewed pdf en http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/45060/1/Ultra-fast%20Joule%20heating%20synthesis%20of%20homogeneous.pdf Su, Jenn Fang and Hoang, Minh-Son and Setiabudi, Herma Dina (2025) Ultra-fast Joule heating synthesis of homogeneous copper-based bimetallic catalysts for electrochemical nitrate-to-ammonium reduction in wastewater treatment. Separation and Purification Technology, 371 (133312). pp. 1-9. ISSN 1383-5866. (Published) https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2025.133312 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2025.133312
spellingShingle QD Chemistry
TD Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering
TP Chemical technology
Su, Jenn Fang
Hoang, Minh-Son
Setiabudi, Herma Dina
Ultra-fast Joule heating synthesis of homogeneous copper-based bimetallic catalysts for electrochemical nitrate-to-ammonium reduction in wastewater treatment
title Ultra-fast Joule heating synthesis of homogeneous copper-based bimetallic catalysts for electrochemical nitrate-to-ammonium reduction in wastewater treatment
title_full Ultra-fast Joule heating synthesis of homogeneous copper-based bimetallic catalysts for electrochemical nitrate-to-ammonium reduction in wastewater treatment
title_fullStr Ultra-fast Joule heating synthesis of homogeneous copper-based bimetallic catalysts for electrochemical nitrate-to-ammonium reduction in wastewater treatment
title_full_unstemmed Ultra-fast Joule heating synthesis of homogeneous copper-based bimetallic catalysts for electrochemical nitrate-to-ammonium reduction in wastewater treatment
title_short Ultra-fast Joule heating synthesis of homogeneous copper-based bimetallic catalysts for electrochemical nitrate-to-ammonium reduction in wastewater treatment
title_sort ultra-fast joule heating synthesis of homogeneous copper-based bimetallic catalysts for electrochemical nitrate-to-ammonium reduction in wastewater treatment
topic QD Chemistry
TD Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering
TP Chemical technology
url http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/45060/
http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/45060/
http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/45060/
http://umpir.ump.edu.my/id/eprint/45060/1/Ultra-fast%20Joule%20heating%20synthesis%20of%20homogeneous.pdf