Electrochemical wastewater treatment: Nutrient recovery and selective contaminant removal

Lauren F. Greenlee, Geletu Qing, László Kékedy-Nagy

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Electrochemical approaches and technologies have the potential to be used and applied to a wide range of water and wastewater treatment needs, particularly if these technologies are paired with a renewable energy source such as solar energy. Renewable-powered electrochemical technology can be used for rural, remote applications and in other scenarios where non-chemical approaches are desirable. Electrochemical technologies can also be potentially used where electrode and electrocatalyst design can be tailored to address specific treatment requirements, such as selective contaminant removal, resource recovery, and disinfection. The research results presented here focus on two applications of electrochemical technology to wastewater treatment: electrochemical precipitation of magnesium ammonium phosphate, known as struvite, for nutrient recovery and simultaneous ammonia oxidation and disinfectant generation for aquaculture wastewater. Experiments on electrochemical struvite precipitation comparing a pure magnesium and a magnesium alloy electrode demonstrated that the pure magnesium electrode produces more current; both anodes result in a crystalline struvite precipitate, as confirmed by x-ray diffraction. Cyclic voltammetry studies for aquaculture wastewater treatment using graphite and graphite-supported PtRu films as the anode demonstrate that the presence of PtRu reduces the voltage required for ammonia oxidation. When graphite is used as the cathode, the disinfectant molecule hydrogen peroxide is produced, suggesting electrochemical disinfection is possible in parallel with ammonia oxidation.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationProceedings of the ISES Solar World Congress 2019 and IEA SHC International Conference on Solar Heating and Cooling for Buildings and Industry 2019
EditorsJose Miguel Cardemil, Ken Guthrie, Ricardo Ruther
PublisherInternational Solar Energy Society
Pages2359-2367
Number of pages9
ISBN (Electronic)9783982040813
DOIs
StatePublished - 2020
EventISES Solar World Congress 2019, SWC 2019 and IEA SHC International Conference on Solar Heating and Cooling for Buildings and Industry 2019, SHC 2019 - Santiago, Chile
Duration: Nov 4 2019Nov 7 2019

Publication series

NameProceedings of the ISES Solar World Congress 2019 and IEA SHC International Conference on Solar Heating and Cooling for Buildings and Industry 2019

Conference

ConferenceISES Solar World Congress 2019, SWC 2019 and IEA SHC International Conference on Solar Heating and Cooling for Buildings and Industry 2019, SHC 2019
Country/TerritoryChile
CitySantiago
Period11/4/1911/7/19

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Electrochemical wastewater treatment: Nutrient recovery and selective contaminant removal'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this