Electrochemical device for generating hydroxyl free radicals and oxidizing chemical substances dissolved in water
OwnerOleh Weres, Michael R. Hoffmaninventors
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Abstract
This invention provides an electrochemical water treatment device for producing hydroxyl free radicals and decomposing by oxidation chemical substances dissolved in water. It utilizes a novel electrode which is capable of operation at sufficiently positive anodic potential to produce hydroxyl radicals.
Claims19
A water treatment module for decomposing chemical substances dissolved or dispersed in an electrically conductive aqueous medium, including
- a bipolar electrochemical cell, wherein said bipolar electrochemical cell includes an array of bipolar electrodes, wherein said bipolar electrodes include a surface part and an internal part, wherein
- said surface part has a semiconducting metal oxide composition including an additive metal having valence states,
- wherein at least part of said additive metal is in a valence state which n-dopes said semiconducting metal oxide composition, and
- wherein concentration of platinum group metals in said semiconducting metal oxide composition is zero or too small to exert a significant electrocatalytic effect favoring the generation of oxygen, and
- wherein said cell is provided with water circulation means, and consists of further providing
- flow baffles defining a serpentine fluid flow path through said array of bipolar electrodes, and
- insulating baffles substantially blocking electrical conduction paths through said electrically conductive aqueous medium between bipolar electrodes which are not immediately adjacent within said array.
A water treatment device for decomposing chemical substances dissolved or dispersed in an electrically conductive aqueous medium, including at least one electrochemical cell, wherein said electrochemical cell includes at least one anode having a surface and a surface part and an internal part, wherein
- said surface part has a semiconducting metal oxide composition including an additive metal having valence states,
- wherein at least part of said additive metal is in a valence state which n-dopes said semiconducting metal oxide composition, and wherein concentration of platinum group metals in said semiconducting metal oxide composition is zero or too small to exert a significant electrocatalytic effect favoring the generation of oxygen,
- said semiconducting metal oxide composition contains titanium dioxide, and said additive metal is selected from the group consisting of Nb and Ta, and
- mole fraction of said additive metal in the +4 valence state is at least 0.25 percent relative to total metal in said semiconducting metal oxide composition, and
- wherein said water treatment device is further provided with a source of electric power, and
- water propulsion means for moving said electrically conductive aqueous medium through said water treatment device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.