Characterisation of a laboratory electrochemical ozonation system and its application in advanced oxidation processes

Abstract

An electrochemical reactor for oxygen/ozone production was developed using perforated planar electrodes. An electroformed $\beta$-PbO₂ coating, deposited on a platinised titanium substrate, was employed as anode while the cathode was a platinised titanium substrate. The electrodes were pressed against a solid polymer electrolyte to minimise ohmic drop and avoid mixing of the gaseous products (H₂ and O₂/O₃). Electrochemical ozone production (EOP) was investigated as function of current density, temperature and electrolyte composition. Electrochemical characterisation demonstrated ozone current efficiency, Φ_EOP, ozone production rate (g h⁻¹), $\nu_{\rm EOP}$, and grams of O₃ per total energy demand (g h⁻¹ W⁻¹), $\nu_{\rm EOP}$ increase on decreasing electrolyte temperature and increasing current density. The best reactor performance for EOP was obtained with the base electrolyte (H₂SO₄ 3.0 mol dm⁻³) containing 0.03 mol dm⁻³ KPF₆. Degradation of reactive dyes used in the textile industry (Reactive Yellow 143 and Reactive Blue 264) with electrochemically-generated ozone was investigated in alkaline medium as function of ozone load (mg h⁻¹) and ozonation time. This investigation revealed ozonation presents very good efficiency for both solution decolouration and total organic carbon (TOC) removal.