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Electrochemical detoxification of waste water without additives using solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) technology

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Abstract

Ion exchange membranes as solid polymer electrolytes (SPE) facilitate the electrochemical detoxification of waste water without addition of supporting electrolyte. Cation exchange membranes as H+ ion conductors or anion exchange membranes as OH− ion conductors were used in combination with different electrode materials. A variety of cell configurations were investigated which differ in the direction of the electro-osmotic stream (EOS). This is a characteristical property of SPE technology, caused by the solvation shells of the ions during their migration through the membrane. Dependent on cell configuration mass transfer at the electrodes can be hindered or enhanced by EOS. In the latter case it is appropriate to increase EOS by preparation of Nafion® membranes in order to decrease energy consumption per m3 waste water. Using a perforated membrane, which operates in this case only as ion conducting solid polymer electrolyte but not as cell separator, flow rates through the cell can be adjusted independent of the EOS and a further decrease of energy consumption is possible. The best results were obtained using anodic oxidation followed by cathodic reduction: 2-chlorophenol as example compound was destroyed almost completely and more than 80% of the chlorine was mineralized to chloride ions. By-products were detected in very low amounts, less than the remaining traces of 2-chlorophenol.

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Abbreviations

AEM:

anion exchange membrane

CEM:

cation exchange membrane

CHQ:

chlorohydroquinone

2-CP:

2-chlorophenol

DMF:

N,N-dimethylformamide

EOS:

electro-osmotic stream

FEP:

fluorinated ethylene propylene co-polymer

MEA:

membrane electrode assembly

MF:

N-methylformamide

PEMFC:

proton exchange membrane fuel cell (polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell)

PTFE:

poly(tetrafluoroethylene)

SPE:

solid polymer electrolyte

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge financial support from Max-Buchner-Forschungsstiftung of DECHEMA e.V., Frankfurt am Main. Sincere thanks are given to Du Pont de Nemours Deutschland GmbH, Tokuyama Europe GmbH and Sigri Great Lakes Carbon Group for providing materials. The authors are indebted to Institut für Umwelttechnik der Universität Dortmund (INFU) for special analyses.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemical and Chemical Engineering, Technical Chemistry A, University of Dortmund, D-44221, Dortmund, Germany

    A. Heyl & J. Jörissen

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  1. A. Heyl
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  2. J. Jörissen
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Correspondence to J. Jörissen.

Additional information

Initial results of this work were presented in posters at the 3rd European Congress on Chemical Engineering (June 26–28, 2001, Nuremberg, Germany, Proceedings Topic 17) and at the 53rd Annual Meeting of the International Society of Electrochemistry (September 15–20, 2002, Düsseldorf, Germany).

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Heyl, A., Jörissen, J. Electrochemical detoxification of waste water without additives using solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) technology. J Appl Electrochem 36, 1281–1290 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-006-9181-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-006-9181-4

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