Effect of Electrode Type on Bacteria Removal and Chlorine and Radical Production in Electrochemical Water Disinfection

Year 2021, , 787 - 801, 15.09.2021

Emine Esra Gerek , Ayşe Tansu Koparal , Savaş Koparal

https://doi.org/10.21205/deufmd.2021236908

Abstract

Formation and contamination of malicious microorganisms and viruses remain to be major problem of water resources. This is mostly due to the fact that, groundwater, which constitutes a large share of available fresh water content, is prone to contamination from urban and industrial wastes. In this work, electrochemical treatment is considered as a disinfection mechanism. The literature presents several cases of individual of electrochemical disinfection experiments. In this particular work, we aim to focus on the comparative disinfection efficiency of Boron-doped diamond electrodes, Iridium metal-oxide electrodes and Graphite plate electrodes at various electrochemical settings, whilst monitoring formation of toxic bi-products, such as chlorine and other radicals. Experiments of electrochemical water disinfection were carried out on real groundwater samples deliberately contaminated with E. coli culture. During the reaction, microorganisms die due to both direct physical damage and due to the electrochemically generated radicals. Therefore, there is a gentle balance of bacteria elimination versus avoiding excessive radical production in the treated water. Since the biological behaviour of the microorganisms and the chemical properties of the available groundwater cannot be changed, the research parameters boil down to experimenting through various popular electrode types and electrical current settings. In both continuous-flow and recursive systems, the Boron-doped diamond electrodes are observed to provide desirable level of disinfection (as good as Iridium metal-oxide), while yielding lower radicals (as low as those of Graphite-plate), making an ideal compromise for the process.

Keywords

electrochemical disinfection, electrode types, bacteria removal, radical and oxidant formation

Supporting Institution

TUBITAK

Project Number

106T615

Thanks

The authors thank TUBITAK for its support of the project "Yeraltı suyunun elektrokimyasal dezenfeksiyonu ve dezenfeksiyon sonrası toksisitesinin belirlenmesi", under contract no: 196T615.

Elektrokimyasal Su Dezenfeksiyonunda Elektrot Tipinin Bakteri Arıtımı ile Klor ve Radikal Üretimine Etkisi

Abstract

Su kaynaklarında tehlikeli bakteri ve virüs üremesi önemli bir problem olmaya devam etmektedir. Bu kirlenmenin başlıca nedeni, su kaynaklarından önemli bir kısmını oluşturan yeraltı suyunun şehir ve endüstri atıklarından bulaşmaya açık olmasıdır. Bu çalışmada bu tarz suların dezenfeksiyonu için elektrokimyasal arıtım ele alınmaktadır. Literatürde tek tek ele alınmış pek çok elektrokimyasal arıtım çalışması mevcuttur. Bu çalışmada bor kaplı elmas elektrot, iridyum metal-oksit elektrot ve grafit plaka elektrotları ele alınmaktadır. Pek çok elektrokimyasal parametre seviyesinde bakteri ölümleri izlenirken bir yandan da klor ve diğer toksik radikal oluşumları izlenmiştir. Deneyler, gerçek yeraltı suyuna kontrollü şekilde eklenmiş E.coli kültürü ile yapılmıştır. Reaksiyon sırasında mikroorganizmalar hem doğrudan elektriksel ve fiziksel nedenlerle, hem de oluşan radikaller nedeniyle ölmektedir. Dolayısıyla arıtım esnasında bakterilerin eliminasyonu ile zehirli çıktı oluşturma arasında hassas bir denge mevcuttur. Bu süreçte mikroorganizmaların biyolojik yapısı ya da yer altı suyunun kimyasal kompozisyonu kontrol edilemeyeceğine göre araştırma parametresi olarak elektrot tipinin değiştirilmesi ve elektrik seviyesinin ayarlanması mantıklı bir yaklaşımdır. Deneysel olarak görülmektedir ki hem sürekli akış, hem de kesikli arıtım sistemlerinde bor kaplamalı elektrotlar, denenenler arasında en ideal seçim olmaktadır, zira dezenfeksiyon seviyelerini iridyum metal-oksit elektrot seçimi kadar yüksek seviyede yapabilirken bir yandan da grafit plaka elektrotlar kadar az miktarda radikal üretmektedir.

Keywords

elektrokimyasal dezenfeksiyon, elektrot türleri, bakteri arıtımı, radikal ve oksitlendirici üretimi

Project Number

106T615

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