Tap Water Disinfection in the Electrochemical Precipitation Process by Using Novel Conductive Concrete

Author

Md Shoriful Islam, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

Date of Award

8-2022

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Civil Engineering

First Advisor

Dr. Jong Min Kim

Second Advisor

Dr. Philip Park

Third Advisor

Dr. Abdoul A. Oubeidillah

Abstract

Electrochemical precipitation (EP) is tested to learn about its impact on disinfectants in tap water. The EP process involves applying electricity through electrodes submerged in water to precipitate dissolved metals like water hardness out without chemical additives. In the study, tap water was tested to learn about EP’s impact on disinfectants. Tap water contains not only hardness but also residual disinfectants. It is very essential for the safety of drinking water against the potential ingress of pathogens before the water reaches the end-users. USEPA mandates that the free chlorine level in drinking water should be 0.2mg/L to 4 mg/L. Since pH near the electrodes changes during the electrochemical precipitation (EP) process, the chemical composition of chlorine species may change as well. In conventional EP, sacrificial metallic cathodes are widely used. Instead, a newly developed conductive concrete block is used in this study. Conductive concrete blocks are made of concrete and conductive graphite flakes. Total and free chlorine concentrations in tap water during the EP process will be collected per different chloride concentrations, current density, treatment time, and pH. Preliminary research findings showed that an increase in the chloride concentration, time, and current density resulted more free chlorine disinfectant concentration in water. This study will introduce a novel hardness removal method, EP with conductive concrete, and provide preliminary proof of its added value as a disinfecting technology

Comments

Copyright 2022 Md Shoriful Islam. All Rights Reserved.

https://go.openathens.net/redirector/utrgv.edu?url=https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/tap-water-disinfection-electrochemical/docview/2743518890/se-2?accountid=7119

Recommended Citation

Islam, Md Shoriful, "Tap Water Disinfection in the Electrochemical Precipitation Process by Using Novel Conductive Concrete" (2022). Theses and Dissertations. 1057.
https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/etd/1057