Anna Da Pozzo

Electrochemical treatment of phenolic waters in presence of chloride with boron-doped diamond (BDD) anodes: Experimental study and mathematical model

This work deals with an experimental and numerical study on the electrochemical treatment of waters containing phenolic compounds with boron-doped diamond (BDD) anodes. Anodic oxidation of m-cresol, as a model of phenolic compound, was investigated by galvanostatic electrolyses. The electrolyses were carried out under different experimental conditions by using an impinging-jet flow cell inserted in a hydraulic circuit in a closed loop. On the basis of the experimental results a mathematical model was implemented to simulate the effect of the chemistry of organic compounds and solution on the process, in particular the effect of chlorides on the kinetics of m-cresol oxidation. The effect of hydrodynamics of the cell on the mass transfer towards the electrode surface was also considered. The model was validated through comparison with experimental data: the results showed that the proposed model well interpreted the complex effect on removal efficiency of such operative parameters as current density, hydrodynamic of the reactor and chemistry of the solution. The model predictions were utilised to obtain quantitative information on the reaction mechanism, as well as to predict the performance of the process under different operative conditions, by calculating some relevant figures of merit.

Investigation on the Adsorption and Photooxidation of Glycerol at TiO2 Nanotubular Arrays

A study is presented on the adsorption of glycerol at TiO2 as well as on its oxidative process during the contemporary water Photoelectro-splitting for hydrogen production. A deepening in the understanding on the working mechanism of the TiO2 nanotubular photoanodes and on the interactions between glycerol and these structures has been gained through photocurrent tests, voltammetric scans, and EIS analysis. A range of wavelength of the incident radiation is investigated from 340 to 400 nm at which the effect of glycerol on the photocurrent is measured. Quantitative analysis of the EIS results is performed by the equivalent circuit approach.