Performance Assessment of Electrolysis Using Copper and Catalyzed Electrodes for Enhanced Nutrient Removal from Wastewater

The performance of electrolytic processes using copper and catalyzed electrodes for enhanced nutrient removal with various catalyzers and combinations of electrodes was evaluated. The catalyzed electrodes removed more ammonia nitrogen than the copper electrode, but higher ammonia removal was achieved using a Pt/Ti anode. On the other hand, electrolysis using the Pt/Cu anode consumed less energy and cost less. During electroreduction, nitrate was better removed by a pair of copper electrodes than by the catalyzed electrodes. During electrolysis of synthetic wastewater, ammonia removal not only increased owing to direct oxidation at the anode, but was also influenced by indirect oxidation at the cathode. Platinum-coated copper and titanium cathodes actively produced oxidizers and thus removed more ammonia than a pure metal cathode. Although phosphorus was removable irrespective of the type of catalyzer, electrocoagulation using the copper electrode achieved complete removal of phosphorus in a period of less than 10 min.