Manganese Slag Electrode Reactor Degrades Salicylic Acid

Manganese Slag to the Rescue: A Sustainable Solution for Salicylic Acid Degradation

Nico Varela in Climate & Environment December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Turning Industrial Waste into an Environmental Ally: How a Novel Electrode Reactor is Tackling Pharmaceutical Pollutants"

In an era where environmental consciousness is paramount, innovative solutions for managing pollutants are more critical than ever. Salicylic acid (SA), a compound found in numerous pharmaceutical and personal care products, is a persistent trace pollutant that poses significant challenges to conventional water treatment processes due to its toxicity and resilience.

Recognizing this pressing issue, researchers have embarked on a quest to find sustainable and effective methods for degrading SA. One promising avenue involves repurposing industrial waste into environmental solutions. Manganese slag, a byproduct of the manganese industry, has emerged as a potential candidate for creating particle electrodes capable of degrading SA in water.

This article explores how a novel three-dimensional electrode reactor (TDE) utilizing manganese slag-derived particle electrodes is revolutionizing the approach to SA degradation. By transforming industrial waste into an environmental asset, this method offers a sustainable and efficient way to combat pharmaceutical pollutants in our water systems.

How Can Manganese Slag Be Transformed into Effective Particle Electrodes?

Manganese Slag Electrode Reactor Degrades Salicylic Acid

The journey begins with the collection of manganese slag from Laiyang Daji Manganese Industry Co., Ltd. This slag, rich in manganese oxides, undergoes a meticulous transformation process to enhance its pollutant-degrading capabilities. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown:

Pretreatment: The manganese slag is thoroughly cleaned using an ultrasonator to eliminate surface impurities. It is then dried in an oven at 105°C for 12 hours to ensure complete dryness.

Impregnation: The pretreated manganese slag is submerged in a mixed solution of copper nitrate and iron nitrate. This process enhances the slag's catalytic properties.
Roasting: The impregnated slag is dried in a blast air oven at 105°C for 2 hours, followed by roasting in a muffle furnace at 550°C for 4 hours. This step converts the metal nitrates into metal oxides, which are crucial for the electrode's performance.
Grinding and Sieving: The resulting material is ground into a powder and sieved through a 320-mesh sieve to obtain uniformly sized particle electrodes.

These carefully prepared particle electrodes, composed of manganese slag loaded with copper and iron, are then ready for deployment in a three-dimensional electrode reactor (TDE).

Turning Waste into a Water Treatment Solution

The research demonstrates that manganese slag can be successfully transformed into effective particle electrodes for degrading salicylic acid. By optimizing factors such as cell voltage, electrolyte concentration, and hydraulic retention time, the TDE system achieved a SA removal rate of up to 76.9%. The study not only provides a sustainable approach to managing pharmaceutical pollutants but also offers a practical application for industrial waste, paving the way for cleaner, healthier water systems.

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Everything You Need To Know

What is the main environmental problem addressed by this research?

The research focuses on degrading salicylic acid (SA), a persistent pollutant found in pharmaceuticals and personal care products. SA poses a challenge to conventional water treatment due to its toxicity and resilience, making its removal crucial for healthier water systems.

How does the research utilize manganese slag to solve the problem?

The research transforms manganese slag, a byproduct of the manganese industry, into particle electrodes. These electrodes are used in a three-dimensional electrode reactor (TDE) to degrade salicylic acid. The process involves pretreatment, impregnation with copper and iron nitrates, roasting, and grinding to create effective electrodes.

What is a three-dimensional electrode reactor (TDE), and what role does it play?

A three-dimensional electrode reactor (TDE) is the core of the water treatment system. It houses the manganese slag-derived particle electrodes. By optimizing parameters such as cell voltage, electrolyte concentration, and hydraulic retention time within the TDE, researchers achieved a significant salicylic acid removal rate. The TDE provides the environment where the electrodes can effectively degrade salicylic acid.

Can you explain the steps involved in transforming manganese slag into particle electrodes?

The process starts with cleaning the manganese slag using an ultrasonator, followed by drying at 105°C for 12 hours. Next, the slag is impregnated with a mixed solution of copper nitrate and iron nitrate to enhance catalytic properties. The impregnated slag is then dried and roasted at 550°C for 4 hours. Finally, the material is ground and sieved to create uniformly sized particle electrodes.

What are the broader implications of using manganese slag for salicylic acid degradation?

This method offers a sustainable solution for managing pharmaceutical pollutants. It transforms industrial waste, manganese slag, into an environmental asset. By using the three-dimensional electrode reactor (TDE) with manganese slag derived particle electrodes, the research paves the way for cleaner, healthier water systems. This approach not only addresses water pollution but also promotes environmental sustainability by repurposing waste materials.