The role of free radicals in electrochemical disinfection
Electrochemical disinfection has been widely investigated for its potential application in water industry. Compared with conventional chlorination disinfection, electrochemical method has shown good environmental compatibility and versatility to kill all kinds of bacteria. In general, the disinfectants have been mainly ascribed to electrogenerated active chlorines. However, the function of free radicals remains unclear. This work explored the role of free radicals generated in the electrochemical disinfection. To eliminate the confusion caused by chlorine, a chloride-free model wastewater was used and E. coli was chosen as an indicator of microorganism. Electron spin resonance detection was carried out to determine which free radical played the critical role in bacteria inactivation. The results gave out clear evidence that hydroxyl radicals were the major germicidal species in the chloride-free wastewater. When chloride was added to the wastewater, the germicidal efficiency could be improved and the treating time would be remarkably reduced. The experiments further demonstrated that electrochemical disinfection with the generation of chlorine could provide residual disinfection in addition to primary disinfection.
Electrochemical disinfection Hydrozyl radicals Active chlorine Mechanism
Yanqing Cong
College of Environmental Science and Engineering Zhejiang Gongshang University Hangzhou 310035, China
国际会议
上海
英文
3356-3358
2008-05-16（万方平台首次上网日期，不代表论文的发表时间）