Operational optimization study of a new flow electrochemical reactor project applied to in situ electrogeneration of H2O2

Abstract

Electrochemical reactors emerge as an alternative to conventional water and wastewater treatment processes that fail to remediate recalcitrant compounds. These reactors can be used in flow, coupled with continuous treatment systems, for hydrogen peroxide production, used in advanced oxidative processes, due to their efficiency. The objective of the present project is to introduce a new design of a flow-operated electrochemical reactor, based on gas diffusion electrodes (GDE), applied in the treatment of penicillin-G (Pen-G) as the target contaminant. During the development of the work, the optimization of reactor operating conditions, such as current density, O2 gas pressure, and electrolyte concentration, will be explored. Additionally, the hydrodynamic regime of the reactor will be studied through tests of hydrodynamic residence time (HRT). The hydrodynamic regime will be compared to the operational conditions, evaluating the efficiency of contaminant removal and H2O2 electrogeneration. Chromatography techniques (HPLC) will be used for contaminant control, spectroscopic techniques (UV-Vis) for monitoring the oxidant (H2O2), and tracking the total organic load present after effluent treatment. As a result of this work, the range of operational conditions for the proposed new electrochemical reactor model in pen-G decontamination will be defined. Furthermore, it is expected to contribute to the literature by comparing the hydrodynamic regime of a flow-operated electrochemical reactor and its effect on H2O2 electrogeneration and effluent decontamination. Finally, this project contains new and relatively unexplored elements that can be utilized in publications in international journals focusing on environmental electrochemical engineering.