Method and system for combined photocatalytic and electrochemical wastewater remediation

• Main Authors: TIAN MIN, CHEN AICHENG, ASMUSSEN ROBERT MATTHEW
• Format: Patent
• Language: Chinese; English
• Published: 18.07.2012
• Subjects: CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY; TREATMENT OF WATER, WASTE WATER, SEWAGE, OR SLUDGE

The present invention utilizes the marriage of photocatalytic degradation and electrochemical oxidation to provide wastewater remediation and water purification based on the use of bifunctional electrodes. The bifunctional electrode provides for combined photocatalytic and electrochemical wastewater remediation for removing any one or combination of organic chemical pollutants, inorganic chemical pollutants and microorganisms. The electrode includes an electronically conducting substrate having a photocatalyst applied to a portion of the surface, the photocatalyst having a bandgap energy (E9), and an electrocatalyst applied to another portion of the surface. Under illumination the photocatalyst produces electron-hole pairs which are separated by an anodic bias potential applied across the photocatalyst. The same bias is applied across the electrocatalyst. The application of the anodic potential bias not only greatly enhances the performance of the photocatalyst for photooxidation of pollutants at the photocat