This paper presents advantages of using a boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrode for hydrogen production and wastewater treatment in a single electrochemical cell. Results indicated that the BDD electrode possessed the widest known electrochemical window, allowing new possibilities for both anodic and cathodic reactions to simultaneously take place. The BDD electrode exhibited high anodic potential, generating high oxidation state radicals that facilitated oxidation of toxic waste organic compounds such as 4-nitrophenols. In contrast, because of widening of potential windows, the rate of hydrogen evolution at the cathode was significantly increased. Time-on-stream concentrations of reaction intermediates were monitored to elucidate mechanism involved in 4-nitrophenol oxidation. Spalling, fouling, or reduction in the thickness of thin-film diamond coating was not observed. Overall, the BDD electrode exhibits unique properties including chemical inertness, anticorrosion, and extended service life. These properties are especially important in wastewater treatment. Economic advantages were attributed to the low cost and long duration BDD electrode and the valuable hydrogen byproduct produced. Analysis has shown that technology associated with the BDD electrode could be effectively implemented with minimum energy input and capital requirements. When combined with solar energy and fuel cells, electrochemical wastewater processing can become energy efficient and cost-effective.
This paper presents the application of a boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrode in the electrochemical oxidation of stable organic compounds. The BDD electrode exhibits a high anodic potential, generating high oxidation state radicals that facilitate the oxidation of tough organic compounds. In this study, the electrochemical oxidation approach is tested in the cleaning of residual organics left on a liquid crystal display (LCD) device. Results indicate that residual organic compounds adhered on an LCD device are decomposed completely in the experiment. It has been shown that the electrolyte temperature and
normalK3PnormalO4
concentration strongly affect the oxidation of tough residual organics such as phenylcyclohexane. Optimal cleaning performance is obtained at an electrolyte concentration of
0.4M
normalK3PnormalO4
and a temperature between 50 and
70°C
. The stability test of a BDD electrode measured by means of X-ray diffraction indicates that the BDD electrode remains unchanged after
200h
of operation. Moreover, the electrochemical oxidation technique has dramatically minimized the use of the ozone depleting substance commonly used as the organic solvent in the LCD manufacturing process.
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