AVS 49th International Symposium
    Electrochemistry and Fluid-Solid Interfaces Tuesday Sessions
       Session EC-TuP

Paper EC-TuP3
The Electrode Processes of Iron at Potentials Beyond the Stability Limits of Water

Tuesday, November 5, 2002, 5:30 pm, Room Exhibit Hall B2

Session: Poster Session
Presenter: S.R. Pathak, Lamar University
Authors: S.R. Pathak, Lamar University
J.R. Parga, Instituto Technologico de Saltillo, Mexico
D.E. Mencer, Wilkes University
G. Irwin, Lamar University
D.L. Cocke, Lamar University
Correspondent: Click to Email
The increasing use of iron electrodes in electrochemical processes that operate beyond the stability limit of water has created a critical need for the delineation of the irreversible interfacial processes affecting performance. These include the production of a range of aqueous iron species, a number of oxyhydroxides and several oxides that are released to the aqueous phase or remain attached to the electrode surfaces. We have examined the performance of iron electrodes in a five electrode arrangement with three bipolar and two monopolar electrode systems. The electrochemical reactor has been examined by the Cell Design 2000 software by LCHEM® to produce potential distribution and current distributions. The local electrodics are compared to the model calculations. The electrode surfaces residues have been examined by linearsweep voltammetry. The solids have been characterized by SEM, XRD, FTIR and Mossbauer Spectroscopy. The iron oxide and oxyhydroxide phases produced display strong dependence on pH. The results will be discussed in the context of the prevalent chemical and physical mechanisms and the influence on the performance of systems such a electrocoagulation, electrodecantation and electroflotation will be delineated.