Membrane-free electrodeionization using graphene composite electrode to purify copper-containing wastewater.

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Membrane-free electrodeionization (MFEDI) technology involves in situ electric regeneration of ion exchange resin, and is used to efficiently purify copper-containing wastewater, so that both the wastewater and copper may be reused. The electrode is the core functional component of a MFEDI system. Electrode-selection greatly influences the electric regeneration efficiency, water recovery and energy consumption of MFEDI processes. In this study, a graphene composite electrode was developed to improve MFEDI-system performance. A graphene composite electrode and conventional platinum-plated titanium electrode were both characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electrochemical testing. Furthermore, the treatment and electrical regeneration properties of MFEDI systems with these two electrodes were investigated. The specific surface area of the electrode increased after graphene loading, while the oxygen evolution potential decreased. Wastewater treatment experiments demonstrated that MFEDI systems with graphene composite electrodes effectively removed copper from wastewater. The study also highlighted that the electroregeneration efficiency of the MFEDI system was improved by loading with graphene; the average copper concentration in the regeneration solution increased by 1.4 times to 50.4 mg/L, while the energy consumption decreased from 1.55 to 1.48 kWh/m3, and the water recovery rate increased from 85 to 90%.