Simultaneous reduction of nitrate and oxidation of by-products using electrochemical method

Electrochemical denitrification was studied with an objective to enhance the selectivity of nitrate to nitrogen gas and to remove the by-products in an undivided electrochemical cell, in which Cu-Zn cathode and Ti/IrO2-Pt anode were assembled. In the presence of 0.50 g/L NaCl as supporting electrolyte, the NO3−-N decreased from 100.0 to 9.7 mg/L after 300 min electrolysis; no ammonia and nitrite were detected in the treated solution. The surface of the cathode was appeared to be rougher than unused after electrolysis at initial pH 6.5 and 12.0. After electrolysis of 5 h at the initial pH 3.0, passivation of the Cu-Zn cathode was observed. The reduction rate slightly increased with increasing current density in the range of 10-60 mA/cm2 and temperatures had little effect on nitrate reduction. Nitrate could be completely removed by the simultaneous reduction and oxidation developed in this study, which is suitable for deep treatment of nitrate polluted water.