Rapid removal of bromate ion from water streams with an electrolytic flow cell

Abstract

To control bromate (BrO 3 − ) contamination in the water supply, it is necessary to develop a rapid BrO 3 − removal technology without a post-treatment. In this study, rapid removal of BrO 3 − from water streams was examined using an electrolytic flow cell. Copper was selected as a working electrode for BrO 3 − reduction by cyclic voltammetry. The electrolytic flow cell with a layered copper mesh cathode successfully reduced BrO 3 − to Br − at around neutral pH. BrO 3 − removal followed the pseudo-first order reaction of BrO 3 − concentration, and the reaction rate constant based on common logarithm was evaluated to be 0.00224 s −1 . Only 3.6 min of contact time was required to decrease BrO 3 − concentration in tap water from 30 to 10 μg/L without pH control. Thus, the electrochemical process is feasible for rapid removal of BrO 3 − without post-treatment.