Associate Research Scientist Ljiljana Rajic together with PhD students Roya Nazari and Noushin Fallahpour published findings regarding the electrochemical degradation of trichloroethylene in aqueous solution by bipolar graphite electrodes in the Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering. Study shows that graphite bipolar electrodes provide sufficient and simple improvement of the undivided, flow-through reactor for electrochemical degradation of trichloroethylene – a common groundwater pollutant that poses great risk for human health. The bipolar electrodes polarize under the electric field supported by feeder electrodes (ones connected with the direct current source) and generate additional reaction zones within the electrochemical reactor (see Figure). The transformation of TCE in the presence of bipolar electrodes included reduction of trichloroethylene via hydrodechlorination at the cathode followed by oxidation with peroxide generated at the bipolar electrodes. This technology utilizes cheap and commercially available electrodes and can be optimized to be applied in the field. Read full article here.
