Studies on electrochemical disinfectant production using anodes containing RuO₂

The present work contains results for artificial water electrolysis in discontinuous operation using laboratory reactors without separators. Rotating anodes with mixed oxide coatings containing IrO₂/RuO₂ were used. The experimental parameters were the chloride concentration, current density, rotation rate, cathode material, pH and water composition. Active and total chlorine concentrations and current efficiencies were obtained. It was shown that even for very low chloride concentrations, chlorine formation occurs, but side effects and side reactions significantly lower the efficiency in this case. Nitrite and ammonia formation was found to reduce the efficiency of chlorine formation. Partial polarization curves were obtained in kinetic experiments using solutions containing chloride and sulphate ions.

Δ:

difference

κ⁰ :

initial value of specific conductivity, S cm⁻¹

Λ:

equivalent ionic conductivity, m² A V⁻¹ mol⁻¹

Φ:

electrical potential, V

\(\upvarphi\) :

current efficiency, %

AC:

active chlorine

c :

concentration, mg dm⁻³

D :

coefficient of diffusion, m² s⁻¹

diss.:

dissolved

E :

electrode potential, V vs SHE

F :

Faraday constant, A s mol⁻¹

i :

current density, mA cm⁻²

I :

current, A

j :

component j

M :

Molaric mass, g mol⁻¹

N :

molaric flux, mol s⁻¹ m⁻²

n :

number of electrons

rpm:

revolutions per minute

SHE:

standard hydrogen electrode, V

t :

time, s, min

V :

electrolyte volume, dm³

w :

velocity, m s⁻¹

x :

coordinate, m

z :

charge number

Authors and Affiliations

1. Department of Electroengineering, Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, 06366, Koethen, Germany

   M. E. H. Bergmann

2. Department of Environmental Engineering, Anadolu University, 26470, Eskisehir, Turkey

   A. S. Koparal

Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. E. H. Bergmann.

An erratum to this article can be found at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10800-006-9143-x

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