Disinfection of water by electrochemical treatment

Abstract

Natural water, highly contaminated with coliforms, was electrochemically treated in a stirred batch system with the use of two Ti electrodes and direct current, the polarity of which alternated automatically in half cycles of 1 min. The process was found to be effective and the percentage of the initial concentration of bacteria which were destroyed was found to be proportional to both treatment time and the square of current density obeying the kinetic model α = ki2 t; consequently the time needed for complete disinfection was inversely proportional to the square of current density. The percentage above was found to be independent of the initial concentration of germs at least for the range of concentrations employed. The residual disinfection capacity, after completion of the electrochemical treatment, was also verified by mixing electrochemically treated, disinfected natural water with contaminated water. © 1990.