An electrochemical carbon nanotube (CNT) filter has been reported to be effective for the adsorptive removal and oxidation of aqueous species. Here, we complete a detailed investigation of the reactive transport mechanism during electrochemical filtration. Similar to batch electrolysis; mass transfer, physical adsorption, and electron transfer are found to be three primary steps in the overall electrochemical filtration mechanism. Mass transfer was quantitatively examined and determined to be increased 6-fold during electrochemical filtration as compared to batch electrochemistry.  Physical adsorption of the organics onto the CNTs was evaluated using temperature-dependent batch experiments and fitted to the Langmuir isotherm.  The electron transfer mechanism and kinetics were examined by challenging the electrochemical filter over a range of concentrations and direct electron transfer was determined to be the dominant oxidation mechanism.  The maximum electron transfer rate is also observed to be affected by the polarity of the molecule indicating electromigration is also active.

Electrochemical filtration reactive transport mechanism and kinetics

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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