A comparison between flow-through cathode and mixed tank cells for the electro-Fenton process with conductive diamond anode. (January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Moraleda, I.; Oturan, N.; Saez, C.; Llanos, J.; Rodrigo, M.A.; Oturan, M.A.
• Is Part Of: Chemosphere. Volume 238(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-01
• Subjects: Flow-through -- Mixed tank -- Electro-Fenton -- Diamond anodes -- Bromacil -- Hydrogen peroxide; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Atmospheric chemistry -- Periodicals; 551.511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.124854
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-6535

Abstract

Abstract: This work focusses on the production of hydrogen peroxide and in the removal of bromacil by the electro-Fenton process using two different electrochemical cells: mixed tank cell (MTC) and flow-through cell (FTC). Both cells use boron doped diamond (BDD) as anode and carbon felt as cathode to promote the formation of hydrogen peroxide. In the case of the MTC, two surface area ratios, Acathode /Aanode, have been used. Results show that the H2 O2 produced by MTC and FTCPSC increases with the time until a stabilization state. For the FTCPSC, the average hydrogen peroxide concentration produced increases progressively with the current, while for MTC the maximum values are found in applying very low current densities. In addition, the FTCPSC provides higher concentrations of hydrogen peroxide for the same current density applied. Regarding the MTC, it can be stated that the higher the area of the cathode, the higher is the amount of H2 O2 produced and the lower is the cell voltage (because of a more efficient current lines distribution). The initial oxidation of bromacil is very efficiently attained being rapidly depleted from wastewater. However, the higher production of hydrogen peroxide obtained by the FTCPSC cell does not reflect on a better performance of the electro-Fenton process. Thus, bromacil is better mineralized using the MTC cell with the lowest cathode area. This observation has been explained because larger concentrations of produced hydrogen peroxide seems to benefit the oxidation of intermediates and not the mineralization. Graphical abstract: Image 10981 Highlights: Rapid depletion of bromacil was obtained using MTC and FTC cells. Significant differences in mineralization efficiency were found for MTC and. The MTC is more efficient for the electro-Fenton process than the non-optimized FTC. FTC is more efficient for the production of hydrogen peroxide than MTC. Higher production of hydrogen peroxide in FTC is not beneficial to electro-Fenton.