Title: Electrochemical oxidation of sulfite ions in aqueous solutions

Authors: A.S. Koparal, U. Tezcan Un, U Bakir Ogutveren

Addresses: Department of Environmental Engineering, Anadolu University, Turkey. ' Department of Environmental Engineering, Anadolu University, Turkey. ' Department of Environmental Engineering, Anadolu University, Turkey

Abstract: Gaseous pollutants that affect human health, destroy vegetation and damage materials and art treasures can be converted into harmless components by electrochemical reactions. Electrochemical gas purification methods can be applied basically in two steps. In the first step, gases to be removed are absorbed in an aqueous electrolyte. Then, in the second step, they can be converted into harmless components via electrochemical oxidation or electrochemical reduction. This study investigated the feasibility of electrochemical removal of sulfite ions arising from the absorption of sulfur dioxide in an aqueous electrolyte. The removal efficiency, current efficiency, and energy consumption were determined at different initial sulfite ion and electrolyte concentrations and applied currents. Furthermore, linear sweep voltammetry studies were performed using a graphite electrode in sulfuric acid. It has been concluded from all these experiments that sulfur dioxide can successfully be removed using an electrochemical method.

Keywords: air pollution; electrochemical oxidation; sulfur dioxide; sulfite removal; air quality; electrochemical gas purification.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2004.005129

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2004 Vol.21 No.6, pp.579 - 587

Published online: 03 Sep 2004 *

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