Impact of electrode sequence on electrochemical removal of trichloroethylene from aqueous solution

The electrode sequence in a mixed flow-through electrochemical cell is evaluated to improve the hydrodechlorination (HDC) of trichloroethylene (TCE) in aqueous solutions. In a mixed (undivided) electrochemical cell, oxygen generated at the anode competes with the transformation of target contaminants at the cathode. In this study, we evaluate the effect of placing the anode downstream from the cathode and using multiple electrodes to promote TCE reduction. Experiments with a cathode followed by an anode (C→A) and an anode followed by a cathode (A→C) were conducted using mixed metal oxide (MMO) and iron as electrode materials. The TCE removal rates when the anode is placed downstream of the cathode (C→A) were 54% by MMO→MMO, 64% by MMO→Fe and 87% by Fe→MMO sequence. Removal rates when the anode is placed upstream of the cathode (A→C) were 38% by MMO→MMO, 58% by Fe→MMO and 69% by MMO→Fe sequence. Placing the anode downstream of the cathode positively improves (by 26%) the degradation of aqueous TCE in a mixed flow-through cell as it minimizes the influence of oxygen generated at the MMO anode on TCE reduction at the cathode. Furthermore, placing the MMO anode downstream of the cathode neutralizes pH and redox potential of the treated solution. Higher flow velocity under the C→A setup increases TCE mass flux reduction rate. Using multiple cathodes and an iron foam cathode up stream of the anode increase the removal rate by 1.6 and 2.4 times, respectively. More than 99% of TCE was removed in the presence of Pd catalyst on carbon and as an iron foam coating. Enhanced reaction rates found in this study imply that a mixed flow-through electrochemical cell with multiple cathodes up stream of an anode is an effective method to promote the reduction of TCE in groundwater.