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Electrode Materials Comparison for Hydrogen Production from Wastewater Electrolysis of Spiked Secondary Effluent

Author

Listed:
  • Giorgio Antonini

    (Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B9, Canada)

  • Javier Ordonez-Loza

    (Department of Chemical & Biochemical Engineering, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B9, Canada)

  • Jithin Mathew

    (Department of Chemical & Biochemical Engineering, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B9, Canada)

  • Joshua Cullen

    (Department of Chemical & Biochemical Engineering, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B9, Canada)

  • Christopher Muller

    (Brown and Caldwell, Walnut Creek, CA 94596, USA)

  • Ahmed Al-Omari

    (Brown and Caldwell, Walnut Creek, CA 94596, USA)

  • Katherine Bell

    (Brown and Caldwell, Walnut Creek, CA 94596, USA)

  • Domenico Santoro

    (Department of Chemical & Biochemical Engineering, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B9, Canada)

  • Joshua M. Pearce

    (Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, Western University, London, ON N6A 5B9, Canada
    Ivey Business School, Western University, London, ON N6G 0N1, Canada)

Abstract

Electrochemical methods show promise for wastewater treatment by removing pollutants, recovering nutrients, and generating hydrogen. To scale this technology, durable and affordable electrode materials are needed. This study evaluates aluminum 6061-T6, titanium grade II, ductile iron, and magnesium to understand their performance in promoting precipitation, gas production, and treating wastewater under several conditions. Electrodes were tested with ammonia-, magnesium-, and phosphate-spiked wastewater samples with induced precipitation at concentrations of 0.033 mol/L and 0.0033 mol/L; the liquid, gas, and precipitation phases were characterized. The results showed up to 35% reduction in ammonia, total phosphate recovery, and up to 70% reduction in magnesium. The cell generates hydrogen with purity levels of 95.6%, 96.1%, 87.9%, and 93.5% when utilizing iron, aluminum, titanium, and magnesium electrodes, respectively. The analyses of precipitants showed formation of vivianite crystals from iron, struvite precipitation from magnesium, and berlinite from aluminum. Overall, these results hold substantial promise for hydrogen generation from wastewater and potential for nutrient recovery and treatment.

Suggested Citation

  • Giorgio Antonini & Javier Ordonez-Loza & Jithin Mathew & Joshua Cullen & Christopher Muller & Ahmed Al-Omari & Katherine Bell & Domenico Santoro & Joshua M. Pearce, 2025. "Electrode Materials Comparison for Hydrogen Production from Wastewater Electrolysis of Spiked Secondary Effluent," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(9), pages 1-15, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:9:p:3988-:d:1645069
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Burton, N.A. & Padilla, R.V. & Rose, A. & Habibullah, H., 2021. "Increasing the efficiency of hydrogen production from solar powered water electrolysis," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
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