Simultaneous Adsorption and Electrochemical Reduction of N-Nitrosodimethylamine Using Carbon-Ti4O7 Composite Reactive Electrochemical Membranes

Environ Sci Technol. 2019 Jan 15;53(2):928-937. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.8b05933. Epub 2018 Dec 28.

Abstract

This study focused on synthesis and characterization of Ti4O7 reactive electrochemical membranes (REMs) amended with powder-activated carbon (PAC) or multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). These composite REMs were evaluated for simultaneous adsorption and electrochemical reduction of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). The carbon-Ti4O7 composite REMs had high electrical conductivities (1832 to 2991 S m-1), where carbon and Ti4O7 were in direct electrical contact. Addition of carbonaceous materials increased the residence times of NDMA in the REMs by a factor of 3.8 to 5.4 and therefore allowed for significant electrochemical NDMA reduction. The treatment of synthetic solutions containing 10 μM NDMA achieved >4-log NDMA removal in a single pass (liquid residence time of 11 to 22 s) through the PAC-REM and MWCNT-REM with the application of a -1.1 V/SHE cathodic potential, with permeate concentrations between 18 and 80 ng L-1. The treatment of a 6.7 nM NDMA-spiked surface water sample, under similar operating conditions (liquid residence time of 22 s), achieved 92 to 97% removal with permeate concentrations between 16 and 40 ng L-1. Density functional theory calculations determined a probable reaction mechanism for NDMA reduction, where the rate-limiting step was a direct electron transfer reaction.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adsorption
  • Charcoal
  • Dimethylnitrosamine
  • Nanotubes, Carbon*
  • Titanium
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical*

Substances

  • Nanotubes, Carbon
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Charcoal
  • Titanium
  • Dimethylnitrosamine