Investigation on the effect of organic dye molecules on capacitive deionization of sodium sulfate salt solution using activated carbon cloth electrodes

Effect of Surface Charge on the Fabrication of Hierarchical Mn-Based Prussian Blue Analogue for Capacitive Desalination

Multiple and hierarchical manganese (Mn)-based Prussian blue analogues obtained on different substrates are successfully prepared using a universal, facile, and simple strategy. Different functional groups and surface charge distributions on carbon cloth have significant effects on the morphologies and nanostructures of Mn-based Prussian blue analogues, thereby indirectly affecting their physicochemical properties. Combined with the advantages of the modified carbon cloth and the nanostructured Mn-based Prussian blue analogues, the composite with negative surface charge formed by the electronegativity differences shows good electrochemical properties, leading to improvement in charge efficiency during capacitive desalination. An asymmetric device fabricated with Mn-based Prussian blue analogue-modified F-doped carbon cloth as the cathode and acid-treated carbon cloth as the anode presents the highest salt adsorption capacity of 10.92 mg g^-1 with a charge efficiency of 82.28% and the lowest energy consumption of 0.45 kW h m^-3 at 1 V due to the main influencing factor from the negative surface charge leading to co-ion expulsion boosting the capacitive deionization performance. We provide insights for further exploration of the relationship between second-phase materials and carbon cloth, while offering some guidance for the design and preparation of electrodes for desalination and beyond.

Experimental and theoretical study of a new CDI device for the treatment of desulfurization wastewater

According to the characteristics of desulfurization wastewater, A new capacitive deionization (CDI) device was designed to study the desalination characteristics of desulfurization wastewater in this paper. The experiments investigated the desalination efficiency under different conditions which find that the best desalination efficiency is achieved at a voltage of 1.2V, pH=11 and 50°C. Besides, ion adsorption is more favorable under acidic and alkaline conditions. The anion and cation removal performance experiments showed that the order of cation removal is Mg²⁺>Na⁺>Ca²⁺>K⁺ and the order of anion removal is Cl^->CO₃^2->NO₃^->SO₄^2->HCO₃^-. The mechanism of CDI was studied and analyzed by the isothermal adsorption model and COMSOL simulation software. It was found that the Freundlich model and Redlich-Peterson model have a good fit with the experimental results. The experiments show that the CDI device has excellent stability. CDI device was used to treat actual desulfurization wastewater. Furthermore, the study provides theoretical support for the industrial application of CDI for desulfurization wastewater treatment in the future. Graphical abstract.

Graphene-based sponges for electrochemical degradation of persistent organic contaminants

Graphene-based sponges doped with atomic nitrogen and boron were applied for the electrochemical degradation of persistent organic contaminants in one-pass, flow-through mode, and in a low-conductivity supporting electrolyte. The B-doped anode and N-doped cathode was capable of >90% contaminant removal at the geometric anodic current density of 173 A m^-2. The electrochemical degradation of contaminants was achieved via the direct electron transfer, the anodically formed O₃, and by the OH^• radicals formed by the decomposition of H₂O₂ produced at the cathode. The identified transformation products of iopromide show that the anodic cleavage of all three C-I bonds at the aromatic ring was preferential over scissions at the alkyl side chains, suggesting a determining role of the π- π interactions with the graphene surface. In the presence of 20 mM sodium chloride (NaCl), the current efficiency for chlorine production was <0.04%, and there was no chlorate and perchlorate formation, demonstrating a very low electrocatalytic activity of the graphene-based sponge anode towards chloride. Graphene-based sponges were produced using a low-cost, bottom-up method that allows easy introduction of dopants and functionalization of the reduced graphene oxide coating, and thus tailoring of the material for the removal of specific contaminants.

Removal of persistent organic contaminants from wastewater using a hybrid electrochemical-granular activated carbon (GAC) system

A three-dimensional (3D) electrochemical flow-through reactor equipped with GAC packed bed, polarized by the electric field, was evaluated for the removal of persistent organic contaminants from real sewage effluent. The performance of the reactor was investigated for 27 consecutive runs at two anodic current densities, i.e., low current density (LCD) of 15 A m^-2, and high current density (HCD) of 100 A m^-2. In the HCD experiments, the adsorption ability of saturated GAC was increased, mainly due to the increase in the mesoporosity of GAC. A synergy between electrosorption/adsorption on GAC and electrooxidation was observed in terms of the removal of all target pollutants. DEET presented the highest synergy, ranging from 40% to 57%, followed by iopromide (22-46%), carbamazepine (15-34%) and diatrizoate (4-30%). The addition of GAC decreased the concentrations of toxic chlorate and perchlorate by 2-fold and 10-fold, respectively, due to their electrosorption on GAC. Also, 3D electrochemical system yielded lower concentrations of adsorbable organic iodide (AOI) and adsorbable organic chlorine (AOCl). Thus, addition of low amounts of GAC in electrochemical systems may be a low-cost and simple way of minimizing the formation and final effluent concentrations of toxic halogenated byproducts.

Investigation of carbonaceous materials electrosorption attributes and its performance for capacitive deionization process within the presence of humic acid

This present investigation emphasizes on pros and cons of humic acid (HA) on electrosorption behaviour and performance efficiency of capacitive deionization (CDI) process. Electrosorptive removal of HA was examined by lab scale CDI flow cell under 100 ppm Na₂SO₄ as a supporting electrolyte. In addition, the electrosorption capacitance and desalination performances were also evaluated through cyclic voltammetry studies. In this perspective, we employed the carbon-based electrodes such as chemically treated activated carbon cloth (ACC), carbon aerogel electrodes grade-I (CA-I) and carbon aerogel electrode grade-II (CA-II) with active surface area for 1 cm² and 24 cm² respectively. The specific capacitance values of 30, 23 and 10 F g^-1 were achieved for ACC, CA-1 and CA-II with 100 ppm Na₂SO₄ and 10 ppm HA electrolyte solution. The experimental results substantiated that ACC electrode exhibited higher removal efficiency compared to other two carbon electrodes (CA-I and CA-II). Eventually, the electrosorption removal of natural organic matter HA was observed as 15% for CA-I, 30% for CA-II and 58% for ACC electrodes in a CDI flow cell.

Telas de carbón activado: generalidades y aplicaciones

Los carbones activados (CA) son de gran interés debido a las excepcionales propiedades físicas y químicas que poseen, estos materiales se presentan en forma de gránulos o polvos, pero recientemente se ha comercializado una nueva forma de CA conocida como Fibra de Carbón Activado (FCA), que se puede fabricar en dos presentaciones, como tela y como fieltro. Las Telas de carbón activado (TCA) son materiales que poseen excelentes propiedades que las hacen superiores en comparación con las formas tradicionales y se producen a partir de precursores, mediante diversos procesos que incluyen activación física o química, entre los agentes impregnantes más utilizados se encuentran el KOH, H3PO4, ZnCl2, AlCl3, NH4Cl, Na2CO3 y K2CO3, cuya función principal es servir como deshidratantes impidiendo al mismo tiempo la producción de alquitranes. Las características y propiedades que adquieren las TCA dependen de la naturaleza del material que se utilizó para producirlas, estas características han sido aprovechadas en una gran cantidad de aplicaciones, como: medicina, sistemas de soporte de catalizadores, en la industria para la adsorción de contaminantes, purificación de aguas y tratamiento de aguas residuales, entre otras. Esta revisión muestra las generalidades y aplicaciones en estudios recientes y resume las aplicaciones de las TCA de las diferentes investigaciones realizadas, así como su proceso de obtención.

Various cell architectures of capacitive deionization: Recent advances and future trends

Substantial consumption and widespread contamination of the available freshwater resources necessitate a continuing search for sustainable, cost-effective and energy-efficient technologies for reclaiming this valuable life-sustaining liquid. With these key advantages, capacitive deionization (CDI) has emerged as a promising technology for the facile removal of ions or other charged species from aqueous solutions via capacitive effects or Faradaic interactions, and is currently being actively explored for water treatment with particular applications in water desalination and wastewater remediation. Over the past decade, the CDI research field has progressed enormously with a constant spring-up of various cell architectures assembled with either capacitive electrodes or battery electrodes, specifically including flow-by CDI, membrane CDI, flow-through CDI, inverted CDI, flow-electrode CDI, hybrid CDI, desalination battery and cation intercalation desalination. This article presents a timely and comprehensive review on the recent advances of various CDI cell architectures, particularly the flow-by CDI and membrane CDI with their key research activities subdivided into materials, application, operational mode, cell design, Faradaic reactions and theoretical models. Moreover, we discuss the challenges remaining in the understanding and perfection of various CDI cell architectures and put forward the prospects and directions for CDI future development.