Electro coagulation Electrochemical process

New EU directives may limit the development and application of new biocides and for this reason, and concerns on toxicity or pollution, there is interest in alternative water treatment techniques such as ultrasound, high-pressure vortexing and electro-coagulation. These may also be used where chemical treatment is not appropriate. ATP measurements are likely to prove useful to monitor the effectiveness of these types of treatment but as with chemical biocidal treatment the nature of the ATP results may depend on the mode of action. One type of electrochemical treatment has been evaluated in our laboratory. The results indicate that as with chemical biocide treatment the use of both Total and Free ATP measurements can be of value in the interpretation of the results, monitoring the process efficacy and in optimisation of this method of water treatment. 

Electro-coagulation (EC) is the process where an electrical current is introduced into an aqueous medium in an electrochemical cell, usually with an A1 or Fe anode. Aluminium is commonly the best anode material, as it is the most afibrdable material that provides trivalent cations and can be used in almost all kinds of waste water treatment application. 

Brillas E, Sauleda R, Casado J. Degradation of 4-chlorophenol by anodic oxidation, Electro-Fenton, Photoelectro-Fenton and Peroxi-coagulation processes. J Electrochem Soc 1998 145 759-765. 

Bowers AR, Eckenfelder WW, Gaddipati P, Mosen RM. (1989). Treatment of toxic or refractory wastewater with hydrogen peroxide. Water Science and Technology 21 447 86. Brillas E, Sauleda R, Casado J. (1998). Degradation of 4-chiorophenol by anodic oxidation, electro-Fenton, photoelectro-Fenton, and peroxi-coagulation processes. Journal of the Electrochemical Society 145 759-765. 

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