David Valero

Electrochemical wastewater treatment directly powered by photovoltaic panels: electrooxidation of a dye-containing wastewater.

Electrochemical technologies have proved to be useful for the treatment of wastewater, but to enhance their green characteristics it seems interesting to use a green electric energy such as that provided by photovoltaic (PV) cells, which are actually under active research to decrease the economic cost of solar kW. The aim of this work is to demonstrate the feasibility and utility of using an electrooxidation system directly powered by a photovoltaic array for the treatment of a wastewater. The experimental system used was an industrial electrochemical filter press reactor and a 40-module PV array. The influence on the degradation of a dye-containing solution (Remazol RB 133) of different experimental parameters such as the PV array and electrochemical reactor configurations has been studied. It has been demonstrated that the electrical configuration of the PV array has a strong influence on the optimal use of the electric energy generated. The optimum PV array configuration changes with the intensity of the solar irradiation, the conductivity of the solution, and the concentration of pollutant in the wastewater. A useful and effective methodology to adjust the EO-PV system operation conditions to the wastewater treatment is proposed.

Prospective Applications of Renewable Energy-Based Electrochemical Systems in Wastewater Treatment

Abstract This chapter deals with the possibilities of combining renewable energies such as solar photovoltaic energy (PV) with the different electrochemical processes toward wastewater treatment. The chapter first describes the nature and characteristics of a solar panel along with the connections of solar plants to a wide variety of electrochemical processes. The chapter follows with the primary progress achieved recently by the distinct combination of PV and the electrochemical processes, pointing out the principal research directions or future perspectives for each electrochemical application. A figure of merit of this chapter is devoted to the wastewater treatment that comes from the almond manufacture industry by using PV coupled with electro oxidation, electrocoagulation, and electro dialysis. Finally, some remarkable examples about the use of another renewable energy, for example, wind energy, coupled with electrochemical wastewater treatment are also taken into account in this chapter.