Electrolytic cell with porous surface active anode for removal of organic contaminants from water and its use to purify contaminated water

An electrolytic cell adapted to reduce the level of organic pollutants present in a stream of contaminated water remediated therein, which comprises:

• a) an elongate water-tight housing comprising
• (i) an elongate shell having an open end;
• (ii) a plurality of interconnected first electrical connectors fitted at spaced apart points on the exterior surface of the shell and communicating with the interior of the housing and which are adapted to be connected to a positive source of direct current;
• (iii) an end wall adapted to be water tight mounted on the open end of the shell;
• (iv) a water inlet port positioned proximate the open end of the shell and adapted to provide liquid communication between the interior of the shell and a source of the contaminated water;
• (v) a water outlet port positioned proximate the open end of the shell and spaced apart from the water inlet port for discharging from the cell water treated therein;
• and
• (vi) a second electrical connector communicating with the interior of the housing, which is spaced apart from the plurality of first electrical connectors and adapted to be connected to a negative source of direct current;
• b) an elongate electrically conductive cathode which is electrically connected to the second electrical connector and which comprises liquid communication means for transporting water treated in the cell to the water outlet port;
• c) an elongate anode in the form of a bed of electrically conductive surface active adsorbent particles which fills the interior of the housing between the plurality of first electrical connectors and the cathode;
• and
• d) an electrically insulating porous wall which provides a uniform space between the cathode and the anode and whose pores provide passage through the wall for water treated in the cell to the liquid communication means of the cathode, whereby the organic pollutants in a stream of polluted water which is passed through the cell while it is connected to a source of direct electric current are adsorbed onto the surface of the particles form the anode and destructively oxidized while adsorbed thereon and the treated water then passes through the insulating wall and the liquid communication means of the cathode and is then discharged from the cell through the water outlet port.