Electrochemistry and the Environment

Frumkin Institute of Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia 

Bioengineering Division, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Piscataway, New Jersey 

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Froment M (1992) Tin oxide A key material in the field of electrochemistry and the environment, PL-6, 43rd ISE Meeting, Cordoba, Argentina, September 20-25... 

Iniesta J, Gonzalez-Garcia J, Montiel V, Aldaz A. Electrochemistry and the environment. Electrochemical treatment of organic matter in wastewater. Energia (Madrid) 1998 24 55-60. 

Rajeshwar K, Ibanez JG, Swain GM (1994) Electrochemistry and the environment. J Appl Electrochem 24 1077... 

The methodology of surface electrochemistry is at present sufficiently broad to perform molecular-level research as required by the standards of modern surface science (1). While ultra-high vacuum electron, atom, and ion spectroscopies connect electrochemistry and the state-of-the-art gas-phase surface science most directly (1-11), their application is appropriate for systems which can be transferred from solution to the vacuum environment without desorption or rearrangement. That this usually occurs has been verified by several groups (see ref. 11 for the recent discussion of this issue). However, for the characterization of weakly interacting interfacial species, the vacuum methods may not be able to provide information directly relevant to the surface composition of electrodes in contact with the electrolyte phase. In such a case, in situ methods are preferred. Such techniques are also unique for the nonelectro-chemical characterization of interfacial kinetics and for the measurements of surface concentrations of reagents involved in... 

Growing pressure for the preservation of resources and the environment are enhancing the competitive prospects of electricity driven processes [1]. In this scenario, electrochemistry by its nature can offer several solutions... 

Give some examples of how electrochemistry affects the environment, human health, and safety. 

In addition, electrochemistry allows the carrying out of a combustion reaction at normal temperatures (cool combustion). The most useful reaction to use for the production of power by electrochemical means is the combustion of hydrogen (discussed later in the section, see page 273) - not only for energetic reasons but also because the product (water) is harmless for man and the environment ... 

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