Dear Junta Hans, ...

Dear Junta Hans, "Electrochemical techniques are among the most widely used current applications in environmental protection and waste treatment. And their potential is even brighter. Broadly defined, electrochemistry is the study of those chemical and physical events that result in the flow of electrons (electricity), essentially through oxidation and reduction reactions. Although there is a tremendous interest in using electrochemistry to develop new and greener ways of manufacturing and using chemical products, a far broader need is to address the waste and pollution already produced (and continuing to be produced) by the non-green process of the past and present. The charged ions react with soluble and insoluble pollutants in the wastewater forming a floc that slowly increases in size by contact with ions of the opposite charge. The electrochemical reactions precipitate pollutants that are in a soluble state, e.g. chemical residues, and these precipitated salts form a floc. In a quiescent state the floc will generally settle to the base of a treatment tank and requires removal together with liquid, and then the sludge de-watered in another step. In a state where the liquid is flowing the floc is less defined and more difficult to separate from the liquid. Electrocoagulation (EC), aka radio frequency diathermy or short wave electrolysis, is a technique used for wash water treatment, wastewater treatment, industrial processed water, and medical treatment. Advanced biological treatment provides a far more sustainable alternative for treating paper industry wastewater as opposed to increasing its salinity (by adding NaCl) for electrocoagulation (EC) consuming a lot of electrical energy and producing a lot of EC-sludge. If you use NaCl, KCl as an electrolyte, oxidation of chloride ions on anode will lead to formation of oxidative chlorine species that can help in oxidation of dissolved organic matter in addition to coagulation by metal hydroxide species. Regards, Prem Baboo