[Effect of pH for the electrochemical oxidation products and oxidation pathways of ammonia]

The electrochemical oxidation of ammonia in wastewater was investigated in a flow electrochemical cell. The effect of pH on ammonia removal efficiency, oxidation products and oxidation pathways was elucidated. The experimental results indicated that, the higher production efficiency of free chlorine and hydroxyl radical can be obtained under the moderate alkaline condition, and the electrochemical oxidation rate of ammonia was higher in this condition. In existence of chloride ions, chloramines produced during the electrolysis of ammonia. The constituent of chloramines related with the pH of reaction system. When pH was higher than 9, monochloramine was dominant; When pH was equal to 7, monochloramine and dichloramine existed at the same time and the concentration of the two chloramines was an approximation of the same; When pH was smaller than 5, most of the production was dichloramine. The production of nitrogen trichloride can be avoided when pH was higher than 5. Under the current density of 20 mA/cm2, the concentration of hydroxyl radical produced by electrolysis was smaller than 5 x 10(-15) mol/L. The indirect oxidation was the dominant reaction in the two pathways of electrochemical oxidation of ammonia.