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Electrolytic removal of lead using a flow-through cell with a reticulated vitreous carbon cathode

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Abstract

The aim of this work was to establish an electrolytic method for the removal of lead from wastewater using a three-dimensional, reticulated vitreous carbon cathode. During the development of the experimental setup, particular attention was paid to the electrolyte flow rate and to the cathode porosity. The electrolytic cell employed potential values in such a way that the lead reduction reaction occurred under mass transport control. The potentials were determined by hydrodynamic voltammetry using a borate/nitrate solution as the supporting electrolyte on a viterous carbon rotating disc electrode. The cell proved to be efficient in removing lead and was able to reduce the levels of this metal to 0.1mgdm-3 in 20min of recirculation, using the ratio catholyte volume/cathode volume equal to 0.027. The best configuration for this removal was a cathode porosity of 80ppi and a solution flow rate of 240dm3h-1.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Engenharia de Materiais FEM, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Caixa Campinas, Brasil

    R. C. Widner, M. F. B. Sousa & R. Bertazzoli

Authors
  1. R. C. Widner
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  2. M. F. B. Sousa
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  3. R. Bertazzoli
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Widner, R.C., Sousa, M.F.B. & Bertazzoli, R. Electrolytic removal of lead using a flow-through cell with a reticulated vitreous carbon cathode. Journal of Applied Electrochemistry 28, 201–207 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1003286810393

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1003286810393

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