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Electrolytic oxidation of trichloroethylene using a ceramic anode

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Abstract

Trichloroethylene (TCE) was transformed to CO2, CO, Cl− and ClO −3 at the anode of a two-chambered electrolytic cell. The working electrode was constructed from Ebonex®, an electrically conductive ceramic (Ti4O7). Under our experimental conditions (anode potential Ea = 2.5 to 4.3 V vs SSCE), the disappearance of TCE was first order in TCE concentration. The transformation rate was independent of pH in the range 1.6 < pH < 11. TCE oxidation occurred only on the anodic surface and was limited by mass transport at high potentials (Ea > 4.0V). The maximum (transport-limited), surface-area-normalized rate constant was about 0.002 43cms−1. Carbon-containing products included CO2 primarily with traces of CO. At neutral and alkaline pHs, the only chlorine-containing products were Cl− and ClO −3 . Hydroxyl radicals were detected in the anodic compartment using a spin trap (4-POBN). A kinetic model was successfully correlated with experimental results.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA

    G. Chen & R.G. Arnold

  2. Department of Atmospheric Sciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA

    E.A. Betterton

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  1. G. Chen
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  3. R.G. Arnold
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Chen, G., Betterton, E. & Arnold, R. Electrolytic oxidation of trichloroethylene using a ceramic anode. Journal of Applied Electrochemistry 29, 961–970 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1003541706456

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