Journal article
Tailored copper-based cathode design advances economic viability of electrocatalytic nitrate treatment with ammonia recovery in a scalable flow reactor
Applied catalysis. B, Environmental, Vol.357, 124278
11/15/2024
DOI: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2024.124278
Abstract
Electrocatalytic reduction is a promising alternative to remove nitrate (NO3–) from water and potentially recover value-added ammonia, but advancements are needed to reduce costs and promote technology adoption. Five monometallic catalysts on activated carbon cloth (ACC) electrodes were evaluated for electrocatalytic NO3– treatment in a previously developed scalable flow reactor. We report Cu and, for the first time, In (as In2O3) are the best performing catalysts regarding NO3– reduction activity (0.45–2.4 L gmetal–1 min–1), Faradaic efficiency (FE), and NH4+ selectivity, with intermediate NO2– accumulation using Cu and NH2OH using In. We discovered trace Pd addition (i.e., 0.01 wt%) to Cu eliminates NO2– accumulation, while approximately doubling activity, and boosting FE and NH4+ selectivity (99 %). Activity of Cu–Pd/ACC decreased with repeated treatment cycles but was easily recovered in situ via electrochemical regeneration. Electrocatalytic NO3– reduction costs with the Cu–Pd electrode were estimated less than IX or catalytic treatment, indicating economic viability.
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•In2O3 electrode showed the highest electrocatalytic nitrate reduction activity.•Cu 0.01 % Pd electrode showed the best activity, FE, and NH4+ selectivity combination.•Cu–Pd electrodes can be electrochemically regenerated in situ to restore activity.•Electroreduction with Cu–Pd electrodes is economically competitive with ion exchange.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Tailored copper-based cathode design advances economic viability of electrocatalytic nitrate treatment with ammonia recovery in a scalable flow reactor
- Creators
- Chenxu Yan - The University of Texas at AustinKuan-Lin Lee - The University of Texas at AustinJacob P. Troutman - The University of Texas at AustinCarolyn E. Brady - The University of Texas at AustinSimon M. Humphrey - The University of Texas at AustinDavid M. Cwiertny - University of IowaSyed Mubeen - University of IowaCharles J. Werth - The University of Texas at Austin
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Applied catalysis. B, Environmental, Vol.357, 124278
- Publisher
- Elsevier B.V
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.apcatb.2024.124278
- ISSN
- 0926-3373
- eISSN
- 1873-3883
- Grant note
- Environmental Engineering program of the National Science Foundation (NSF): CBET-1922504 Process Systems, Reaction Engineering and Molecular Thermodynamics program of the NSF: CBET-1706797, 1705255
This work is supported by the Environmental Engineering program of the National Science Foundation (NSF) under the award numbers CBET-1922504 and by the Process Systems, Reaction Engineering and Molecular Thermodynamics program of the NSF under the award numbers CBET-1706797 and 1705255. We thank Michelle Mikesh from the Center for Biomedical Research Support (CBRS) Microscopy and Imaging Facility at the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) for the assistance of taking LR-TEM images. We thank Dr. Hugo Celio from the Texas Materials Institute (TMI) at UT Austin for collecting XPS spectra. We also thank Dr. Vincent Lynch from the Department of Chemistry and Faulkner Nanoscience and Technology Center at UT Austin for the assistance of PXRD pattern collection and analysis.
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 11/15/2024
- Academic Unit
- Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination; Chemistry; Chemical and Biochemical Engineering; Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Record Identifier
- 9984648571802771
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