Generation of Hydroxyl Radicals in an Advanced Oxidation Reactor

An advanced oxidation reactor, comprising:

• a reactor vessel;
• an anode contained in the reactor vessel;
• a cathode contained in the reactor vessel;
• and
• a fine bubble generator contained in the reactor, wherein the fine bubble generator is configured to generate fine bubbles with a diameter of less than 200 μm.

A method for generating hydroxyl (·OH) radicals in an advanced oxidation reactor, the method comprising:

• introducing bubbles of at least one of oxygen (O2) and ozone (O3) in an advanced oxidation reactor vessel, wherein the reactor vessel contains an anode and a cathode in an aqueous saline solution, and wherein the anode comprises a manganese-based oxide;
• delivering a voltage from a voltage source and/or a current from a current source to the anode and to the cathode to generate a potential difference between the anode and the cathode;
• reacting the introduced oxygen or oxygen from the ozone in the aqueous saline solution to produce hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) at an interface of the aqueous saline solution with the cathode;
• and
• generating hydroxyl (·OH) radicals from the hydrogen peroxide.