Simultaneous hydrogen production and electrochemical oxidation of organics using boron-doped diamond electrodes

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.