A trace metal analysis detector and method of operating the same to detect metals in various fluid samples using boron doped diamond working electrodes.

This invention relates to a novel conductive organic membrane-coupled filtration system for the degradation of organic pollutants from wastewater. The system comprises a connected water pump and a reactor. The upper end of the reactor contained a water inlet, and the lower end consisted of a water outlet. A counter electrode and a membrane electrode are fixed on the reactor between the water inlet and water outlet. The counter electrode and membrane electrode constitute a two-electrode system connected to an external potentiostat through metal wires. The membrane electrode is made of carbon-based polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane that can be used to enhance the electrochemical separation of small molecules and the removal of organic pollutants.

An apparatus for treating a stream of contaminated water having an elevated concentration of at least one of light metals, heavy metals, sulfates that includes at least one process fluid inlet communicating with a process conduit; at least one electrode reaction vessel in fluid communication with the process conduit, the reaction vessel having an interior chamber and at least one electrode positioned in the reaction chamber, the electrode powered by a alternating current source; and at least one magnetic field reaction vessel in fluid communication with the process conduit, the magnetic field reaction vessel having an outwardly oriented surface and an opposed inwardly oriented surface, the magnetic field reaction vessel having at least one magnet in contact with the inwardly oriented surface of the magnetic field reaction vessel.

Improved electrochemical production of hydrogen peroxide is provided with a surface-oxidized carbon catalyst. The carbon can be, for example, carbon black or carbon nanotubes. The oxidation of the carbon can be performed, for example, by heating the carbon in nitric acid, or by heating the carbon in a base. The resulting carbon catalyst can have a distinctive oxygen is peak in its X-ray photoelectron spectrum.

An apparatus has a hub including a water inlet for receiving source water, a water outlet for discharging ozonated water, and an interface between the water inlet and the water outlet. The apparatus also has a cartridge including an electrolytic cell for ozonating the source water. The electrolytic cell has a cathode, an anode comprising diamond, and a membrane between the cathode and the anode. The electrolytic cell is configured to flow source water through both the cathode and the anode. The cartridge further includes at least one cartridge port for removably coupling with the interface on the hub. The at least one cartridge port and the interface are configured to flow source water from the hub into the electrolytic cell and to flow ozonated water from the electrolytic cell into the hub.

Synthetic materials that are useful as heterogeneous catalysts or electrocatalysts. The materials can be used to catalyze oxidation and/or reduction reactions and/or oxygen/hydrogen evolution/oxydation reactions.

The present disclosure provides methods, electrodes, and systems for electrochemical oxidation of polyfluoroalkyl and perfluroalkyl (PFAS) contaminants using Magnéli phase titanium suboxide ceramic electrodes/membranes. Magnéli phase titanium suboxide ceramic electrodes/membranes can be porous and can be included in reactive electrochemical membrane filtration systems for filtration, concentration, and oxidation of PFASs and other contaminants.

The invention provides systems and methods for degrading compounds containing at least one carbon-halogen, carbon-nitrogen, or carbon-oxygen covalent bond, which covalent bond is a single bond, by electrocatalysis using a water oxidation electrocatalyst in a predominantly aqueous electrolyte. In some embodiments, the compounds are perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS.

In accordance with the present invention there is provided a method for treating a wastewater stream, comprising the steps of:—introducing O.sub.3 in the wastewater stream, thereby dissolving at least part of the O.sub.3 in the wastewater stream;—optionally irradiating the wastewater stream with ionizing radiation; and—optionally contacting the wastewater stream with a heterogeneous catalyst. In case the ozone treatment is combined with a heterogeneous catalyst, the wastewater treatment can be more effective than with ozone treatment alone, depending on the type of impurities in the wastewater stream. The type of heterogeneous catalyst can be chosen depending on the source of the wastewater and the specific pollutants associated with such wastewater sources. Advantageously, the ozone required for this process can be generated by electrolysis of water. In the current energy market, hydrogen (H.sub.2), which is also produced during electrolysis of water, is becoming increasingly important as a fuel, and therefore, increasing amounts of hydrogen are being produced, preferably using electricity generated using renewable resources. Therefore, oxygen (O.sub.2) and ozone (O.sub.3), which are produced alongside hydrogen during water electrolysis, and which are currently often discarded as an invaluable byproduct, can instead be used for wastewater treatment. Therefore, according to another aspect of the invention, there is also provided the use of O.sub.2 and/or O.sub.3 obtained by electrolysis of water for wastewater treatment.

The present invention discloses an electrocatalytic Fenton oxidation-electrochemical oxidation coupling process and apparatus for efficient treatment of chemical wastewater, and belongs to the field of sewage treatment. The process includes an electrocatalytic Fenton oxidation step, an electrochemical oxidation step, and a pH adjustment step. A spacing between a cathode and an anode in the electrocatalytic Fenton oxidation step is controlled, so that oxygen produced at the anode reacts at the cathode to produce H.sub.2O.sub.2. The treatment requirements can be met without external aeration or external addition of H.sub.2O.sub.2, and meanwhile, the efficiency of COD removal by electro-Fenton oxidation is effectively improved. Further, by connecting a pH adjusting tank with the electrocatalytic Fenton oxidation-electrochemical oxidation coupling apparatus in series, a coupling treatment process with near-zero production of iron sludge is realized.