Electrochemical water treatment system and method
View Patent ↗A water treatment system comprises an electrolytic cell comprising: a first electrode; a second electrode comprising a coating of polymer comprising structural units of formula I and a power source for powering the first and the second electrodes; wherein R 1 is independently at each occurrence a C 1 -C 6 alkyl radical or —SO 3 H; R 2 is independently at each occurrence a C 1 -C 6 alkyl radical; a is independently at each occurrence an integer ranging from 0 to 4; and b is independently at each occurrence an integer ranging from 0 to 3. An associated method is also described.
1. A water treatment system comprising:
an electrolytic cell comprising:
a first electrode;
a second electrode comprising an activated carbon substrate and a coating of polymer comprising structural units of formula I
and
a power source for powering the first and the second electrodes;
wherein
R 1 is independently at each occurrence a C 1 -C 6 alkyl radical or —SO 3 H;
R 2 is independently at each occurrence a C 1 -C 6 alkyl radical;
a is independently at each occurrence an integer ranging from 0 to 4; and
b is independently at each occurrence an integer ranging from 0 to 3.
2. The water treatment system of claim 1 , wherein b=0.
3. The water treatment system of claim 2 , wherein a=0.
4. The water treatment system of claim 2 , wherein a=1, R 1 is —SO 3 H.
5. The water treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the first electrode is opposite to the coating of the polymer on the second electrode.
6. The water treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the electrolytic cell comprises a liquid chamber between the first electrode and the coating of the polymer on the second electrode.
7. The water treatment system of claim 6 , comprising an input line in communication with the liquid chamber.
8. The water treatment system of claim 6 , comprising an output line in communication with the liquid chamber.
9. The water treatment system of claim 1 , wherein the electrolytic cell comprises a gas chamber on an opposite side of the coating of the polymer and away from the first electrode.
10. A method, comprising:
passing an electric current through an aqueous solution of an electrolyte;
oxidizing at least a portion of anions of the aqueous solution to produce oxidation products;
reducing at least some oxygen gas to produce hydroxide ions;
transporting the hydroxide ions into proximity with the oxidation products through an activated carbon substrate and a coating of a polymer comprising structural units of formula
to react with the oxidation products and cations of the aqueous solution to produce hypochlorite; and
providing said hypochlorite to water to control levels of microorganisms;
wherein
R 1 is independently at each occurrence a C 1 -C 6 alkyl radical or —SO 3 H;
R 2 is independently at each occurrence a C 1 -C 6 alkyl radical;
a is independently at each occurrence an integer ranging from 0 to 4; and
b is independently at each occurrence an integer ranging from 0 to 3.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the aqueous solution is an alkali halide solution.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the oxidation products are diatomic halide gas.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the passing step comprises passing the electric current through a first electrode and a second electrode of an electrolytic cell.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the aqueous solution is a sodium chloride solution or a potassium chloride solution.
15. The method of claim 10 , wherein b=0.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein a=0.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein a=1, R 1 is —SO 3 H.
18. The method of claim 10 , wherein the polymer comprising structural units of formula I comprises structural units of formula
19. The method of claim 10 , wherein the polymer comprising structural units of formula I comprises structural units of formula
20. The method of claim 10 , wherein the coating of the polymer is on an electrode of an electrolytic cell.