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DECHLORINATION OF TRICHLOROETHYLENE USING ELECTROCHEMICAL METHODS
Citation:
AlAbed*, S R. AND Y. Fang. DECHLORINATION OF TRICHLOROETHYLENE USING ELECTROCHEMICAL METHODS. Presented at 228TH American Chemical Society National Meeting, Division of Environmental Chemistry, Philadelphia, PA, August 22 - 26, 2004.
Impact/Purpose:
To evaluate the effect of TCE adsorption on graphite in terms of total carbon balance. To evaluate the effects of electrolytes on TCE dechlorination with TCE dechlorination in three different electrolyte solutions.
Description:
Electrochemical degradation (ECD) is used to decontaminate organic and inorganic contaminants through oxidative or reductive processes. The ECD of Trichloroethylene (TCE) dechlorinates TCE through electric reduction. TCE dechlorination presented in the literature utilized electrodes made with material that may not be practical for field use. Granular graphite was used as electrode material to effectively dechlorinate TCE in aqueous environments. Granular graphite is a highly conductive material with a large surface area for reactions. The high surface granular graphite also adsorbs chemicals like TCE and other chlorinated organic compounds. Research presented here evaluates the effect of TCE adsorption on graphite in terms of total carbon balance. Also, the effects of electrolytes on TCE dechlorination were evaluated with TCE dechlorination in three different electrolyte solutions. The evaluation was supported by using a simple mathematical model for the reactor system. The evaluations of TCE adsorption on granular graphite and of electrolyte effects provide further understanding of the electrochemical degradation process which has a great potential for the treatment of other contaminants such as PAHs, PCBs, fuels, and arsenic in contaminated sediments and groundwater.