Treating Water Using a Perforated Electrode Flow Through Cell

Abstract

Perforated Electrode Flow Through cell (PEFT cell) is an undivided electro –chlorination cell designed by the University of Waikato. A new design was developed that consists of two sets of perforated electrodes assembled in a 3D printed casing. The aim of this research was to test the new PEFT cell for chlorine production, trial it for E-coli disinfection and iron and manganese removal by coupling it to a DMI-65 column. Maximum chlorine concentration was achieved at 0.1 mol/L NaCl concentration at a flow rate of 1.8 ml/s at 5 volts and 10 amps, and a current density of 44 mA/cm2, resulting in a chlorine concentration of 510 mg/L. Chlorine production increased with increasing salt concentration but decreased with flow rate. Maximum chlorine production rate was at 0.14 mg/s.amp at 7.41 ml/s flow rate. Total inactivation of E-coli bacteria was achieved for all conditions tested. Iron and manganese removals of 92.5% and 90% respectively were achieved for synthetic bore water when the PEFT cell was coupled to a DMI-65 column.