Electrochemical Treatment of High Concentration Ammonia using RuO2/Ti Anode and TiO2 Nanotube Cathode

Abstract

Objectives:In this study, the treatment potential of ammonia in wastewater generated by S company odor removal process was tested by using electrochemical reactor with RuO2/Ti anode and TiO2 nanotube cathode. The effect of chlorine ion concentration and current density on ammonia oxidation were investigated by comparing the treatment efficiencies.Methods:380 mL of wastewater was electrolyzed for 3 h using 4 anodes and 5 cathodes and pH, NH3-N, NO3--N, and TN were measured and analyzed every 30 minutes.Results and Discussion:As the addition of chlorine ion increases, about 1,700 mg/L of ammonia in the wastewater was found to increase in oxidation reaction rate due to an increase in chlorine based oxidizing agent. An increase in chlorine based oxidizing agent leads to an increase in indirect oxidation. As a result, total nitrogen removal was increased. Ammonia oxidation rate was increased as the current density increased. Nitrate, ammonia oxidation byproduct, was accumulated at a current density from 20 to 40 mA/cm2. At higher than 50 mA/cm2, nitrate was accumulated for a while and then decreased. Total nitrogen removal rate increased as the current density increased. During electrochemical oxidation of ammonia to nitrate, hydroxyl ions were consumed by the reaction. The hydroxyl ion consumed during ammonia oxidation was less than that produced from nitrate reduction.Conclusions:Thus, ammonia in actual wastewater was completely removed using RuO2/Ti anode and TiO2 nanotube cathode and the possibility of reducing nitrate was confirmed. We confirmed the applicability of the two electrodes to the real industry.