Separation and Purification Technology, Vol.208, 123-129, 2019
On the design of a jet-aerated microfluidic flow-through reactor for wastewater treatment by electro-Fenton
The design of cost-effective reactors for wastewater treatment by electrochemical advanced oxidation processes is still a challenge. In this work, a novel electro-Fenton reactor concept is presented. The combination of a jet aerator and a microfluidic flow-through cell configures a reactor with low ohmic drop, improved mass transfer which is, in addition, aerated by a compressor-free system. The production of H2O2 was assessed, obtaining an instantaneous production rate of 12.4 mg H2O2 cm(-3) electrode h(-1) at an instantaneous current efficiency of 98.6% with a low electrical energy consumption of 7.8 kWh kg H2O2-1 in 0.05M Na2SO4 using a RVC with a deposition of CB/PTFE as the cathode. The performance of two mesh anodes (covered with mixed mineral oxides and boron doped diamond) and two cathodes (Duocel (R) RVC and Aluminium foams) was evaluated for the degradation of 0.75 dm(3) with 100 mg dm(-3) of clopyralid as model bio-refractory organic pollutant. The combination of BDD + CB/PTPE - Al was found to be synergistic due to the production of oxidizing radicals from water oxidation and electro-generated Fenton reagent. It was selected as the optimum configuration allowing a fast and efficient degradation of clopyralid after the application of approximately 0.44 Ah dm(-3) (less than 1 h) resulting in an energy consumption of 0.02 kWh g(-1) clopyralid at 20mA cm(-3) in a medium with only 7 mM Na2SO4 of supporting electrolyte.
Keywords:Jet aerator;Microfluidic;Ohmic resistance;Flow-through;3D electrodes;Mass transport;EAOP;Electro-Fenton;Wastewater treatment