0000000000098039
AUTHOR
R Riccobono
Towards the simultaneous generation of electric energy and the abatement of organic pollutants by reverse electrodialysis processes
In reverse electrodialysis (RED) processes, electrical energy is directly extracted from chemical potential gradients arising from salinity differences, especially from sea and river water [1]. In RED there are at least four complementary elements: (1) electrodes, where electron transfer reactions occur to allow the transformation of the charge carrier from ion to electron; (2) ion selective exchange membranes, which allow the selective transport of ions; (3) solvents, which make a continuum for ion transport; (4) electrolytes, i.e. the current carriers between cathode and anode. The redox process is usually chosen in order to limit the energetic losses, the cost of redox specie and electro…
ABATEMENT OF POLLUTANTS IN AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS BY REVERSE ELECTRODIALYSIS PROCESSES
Electrochemistry-based technologies are very promising methods for treating wastewaters containing organic and inorganic pollutants that are either resistant to biological processes or toxic for microorganisms [1]. On the other hand, in the reverse electrodialysis (RED), the electrical energy is directly extracted from chemical potential gradients arising from salinity differences [2], especially between brine solution and sea water. RED can be potentially used for the simultaneous generation of electrical energy and the treatment of waters contaminated by recalcitrant pollutants. The advantages of using the RED process for such dual purpose are: the utilization of a green reagent such as t…
ELECTROCHEMICAL TREATMENT OF WASTE WATERS CONTAMINATED BY ORGANIC POLLUTANTS: A LOOK ON SOME NEW APPROACHES
Recent researches have demonstrated that electrochemical methods offer an attractive alternative to traditional routes for treating wastewaters containing toxic or/and refractory organic pollutants. These methods use a clean reagent, as the electron, very mild operative conditions (ambient temperature and pressure) and can be run with limited operative costs. Despite of the above mentioned advantages, electrochemical processes present some important disadvantages such as: • the cost of some electrodic materials such as silver (for reduction processes) and boron doped diamond (for oxidation ones). On the other hand, the cost of silver based electrodic materials can be considerably lowered by…