title: Application of an electrochemical chlorine-generation system combined with solar energy as appropriate technology for water disinfection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Affordable water disinfection is key to reducing the waterborne disease experienced worldwide where resources are limited. A simple electrochemical system that can generate chlorine as a disinfectant from the electrolysis of sodium chloride is an appropriate technology to produce clean water, particularly if driven by solar energy. This study examined the affordability of an electrochemical chlorine generation system using solar energy and developed the necessary design information for its implementation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A two-electrode batch reactor, equipped with commercial IrO(2)-coated electrodes and a solar panel (approximate area 0.2 m(2)), was used to produce chlorine from a 35g/L solution of NaCl.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Within 1 h, sufficient chlorine (0.8 g) was generated to produce clean drinking water for about 80 people for 1 day (target microorganism: Escherichia coli; daily drinking water requirement: 2 L per person; chlorine demand: 4 mg/L; solar power: 650 W/m(2) in Seoul, Korea. Small household batteries were demonstrated to be a suitable alternative power source when there is insufficient solar irradiation. Using a 1 m(2) solar panel, the reactor would take only 15 min in Seoul, Korea, or 7 min in the tropics (solar power 1300 W/m(2)), to generate 1 g of chlorine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The solar-powered electrochemical chlorine generation system for which design information is provided here is a simple and affordable way to produce chlorine with which to convert contaminated water into clean drinking water.
authors.affiliation: World Class University program of Chemical Convergence for Energy & Environment, School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jusol
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Chan Gyu
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jeyong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yoon
mesh_terms: D002713:Chlorine / Q000737:chemistry*; D004203:Disinfection / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*; D004572:Electrolysis / Q000191:economics*; D012993:Solar Energy; D018508:Water Purification / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D002713:Chlorine