In this study, we reported a novel electrolysis reactor that realizes simultaneous organic removal, disinfection, and nutrient recovery in a single treatment process. The reactor comprises an advanced gas diffusion cathode for the onsite production of high concentration H2O2 and a SnO2 based anode for effective hydroxyl radical and O3 production. The reactor was applied in treating septic tank wastewater to showcase an application for point-of-use water treatment and reuse. The onsite production of O3 and H2O2 enables the peroxone reaction to readily remove 90% of COD within 2 hr electrolysis. Higher than 4-log inactivation of gram-positive and negative bacteria and model viruses (MS2 and Phi6) was also achieved. It was found that the H2O2 quenched the electrochemically generated chlorine, which effectively prevented the formation of disinfection byproducts and avoided the depletion of NH3 via breakpoint chlorination. The reactor also demonstrated high efficiency for the recovery of N and P nutrients. NH4-N was removed from water via the cross-GDE gas stripping and could be adsorbed as (NH4)2SO4 by a gas trap. Phosphate was removed via the formation of hydroxyl appetite at the cathode surface. The addition of ferric ion could further accelerate the phosphate removal via the coagulation mechanism.

Multi-functional electrolytic reactor for organic removal, disinfection, and nutrient recovery

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ACS Fall 2022

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