Ultrasound electrochemical determination of chemical oxygen demand using boron-doped diamond electrode

Preparation of Ti/RuO2-IrO2 electrodes and their application in broad-spectrum electrochemical detection of COD

An electrode with RuO2 and IrO2 co-deposited on a Ti surface (Ti/RuO2-IrO2), notable for its high catalytic activity and stability, was developed for the rapid and environmentally friendly electrochemical determination of chemical oxygen demand (COD). This study thoroughly examined factors influencing electrode preparation, COD detection mechanisms, and the factors affecting COD detection, as well as broad-spectrum analysis. Under optimal conditions, which include a deposition time of 53.5 min, a current density of 5.5 mA/cm2, and 2.35 mmol of RuCl3, the electrode achieved a linear correlation coefficient of 0.99 for COD detection. The co-doping of RuO2 and IrO2 significantly enhanced the electrode's specific surface area and charge transfer rate, thereby improving the oxidation of organic compounds. The detection limit for COD was established at 1.8 mg/L, with a range of 0-250 mg/L, using an oxidation potential of 0.90 V and an electrolysis time of 150 s at an initial electrolyte pH of 6 with 0.03 mol/L NaNO3. The electrode effectively oxidized organic compounds across this range and demonstrated tolerance to chloride concentrations up to 800 mg/L. Electrode stability was confirmed through 30 repetitive cycles with no significant performance degradation. The detection results for simulated water samples were in strong agreement with the results obtained from the dichromate colorimetric method, with a linear equation of y = 0.01x+1.11, with an R2 of 0.99. The detection outcomes for six different sources of real water samples indicated consistent correlation between the electrochemical COD detection method using the Ti/RuO2-IrO2 electrode and the dichromate colorimetric method. This research showed the Ti/RuO2-IrO2 electrode has certain potential as COD detection element, leveraging its high charge transfer rate and extensive active area.

Sensing of chemical oxygen demand (COD) by amperometric detection-dependence of current signal on concentration and type of organic species

The standard method to determine chemical oxygen demand (COD) with K₂Cr₂O₆ uses harmful chemicals, has a long analysis time, and cannot be used for on-site online monitoring. It is therefore necessary to find a fast, cheap, and harmless alternative. The amperometric determination of COD on boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes is a promising approach. However, to be a suitable alternative, the electrochemical method must at least be able to determine the COD of water samples independently of the contained substances. Therefore, the current signal as a function of various organic materials was investigated for the first time. It was shown that the height of the signal current depended on the type of organic matter in single-substance solutions and that this substance dependency increases with the amount of COD. Those findings could be explained by the mechanism proposed for this reaction, showing that the selectivity of the reaction depends on the ratio of the concentration of hydroxyl radicals and organic species. We give an outlook on how to improve the method in order to increase the linear working range and avoid signal variance and how to further explain the signal variance.

Sulfur removal from bauxite water slurry (BWS) electrolysis intensified by ultrasonic

Effects of ultrasonic on desulfurization ratio from bauxite water slurry (BWS) electrolysis in NaOH solution were examined under constant current. The results indicated that ultrasonic improved the desulfurization ratio at high temperatures because of the diffusion and transfer of oxygen gas in electrolyte. However, due to the increase in oxygen gas emission, ultrasonic could not improve the desulfurization ratio obviously at low temperatures. Additionally, the particle size of bauxite became fine in the presence of ultrasonic, indicating that the mass transfer of FeS2 phase was improved. According to the polarization curves, the current density increased in the presence of ultrasonic, indicating that the mass transfer of liquid phase was improved. The apparent activation energy (AAE) of electrode reaction revealed that ultrasonic did not change the pathway of water electrolysis. However, ultrasonic changed the pathway of BWS electrolysis, converting indirect oxidation into direct oxidation. The AAE of BWS electrolysis in the presence of ultrasonic was higher than that in the absence of ultrasonic. And the low AAEs (less than 20 kJ/mol) clearly indicated the diffusion control during BWS electrolysis reaction.