title: High production of CH4 and H2 by reducing PET waste water using a non-diaphragm-based electrochemical method.
abstract: In recent years, the worldwide use of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) has increased exponentially. PET wastewater contains ethylene glycol (EG) and terephthalic acid (TPA). In this study, we present a unique method for producing combustible gases like CH4 and H2 from PET wastewater by electrochemical reaction of EG and TPA. The non-diaphragm-based electrochemical (NDE) method was used to treat PET wastewater. The electrochemical removal of EG and TPA from PET wastewater was examined and the optimal conditions for their reduction to CH4 and H2 were determined. Using the proposed system, 99.9% of the EG and TPA present in the PET wastewater samples were degraded to produce CH4 and H2, at applied voltages lower than 5 V. The highest Faradaic efficiency achieved for EG and TPA reduction was 62.2% (CH4, 25.6%; H2, 36.6%), at an applied voltage of 0.8 V. Remarkably, CH4 was produced from EG decomposition and H2 from TPA decomposition. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported instance of CH4 and H2 production from EG and TPA, respectively. The electrochemical reductive treatment will be an important discovery for reducing water contamination and replacing fossil fuels with respect to generating green energy.
authors: Department of Environmental Engineering, Kumoh National Institute of Technology, Daehak-ro 61, Gumi, Gyeongbuk 730-701, Republic of Korea.
authors: Nam-Gyu
authors: NG
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Environmental Engineering, Kumoh National Institute of Technology, Daehak-ro 61, Gumi, Gyeongbuk 730-701, Republic of Korea.
authors: Kwang-Jin
authors: KJ
authors: Yim
authors: Marine Energy Convergence &Integration Laboratory, Jeju Global Research Center, Korea Institute of Energy Research, Republic of Korea.
authors: Chan-Soo
authors: CS
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Eco-Machinery Systems, Environmental and Energy Systems Research Division, Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials, 156 Gajeongbuk-ro, Yuseong, Daejeon 305-343, Republic of Korea.
authors: Dong-Keun
authors: DK
authors: Song
authors: Department of Chemical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Hiroshima University, 1-4-1 Kagamiyama, Higashi Hiroshima 739-8527, Japan.
authors: Kikuo
authors: K
authors: Okuyama
authors: Department of Environmental Engineering, Kumoh National Institute of Technology, Daehak-ro 61, Gumi, Gyeongbuk 730-701, Republic of Korea.
authors: Min-Ho
authors: MH
authors: Han
authors: Department of Environmental Engineering, Kumoh National Institute of Technology, Daehak-ro 61, Gumi, Gyeongbuk 730-701, Republic of Korea.
authors: Young-Hoo
authors: YH
authors: Kim
authors: School of Applied Biosciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 702-701, Republic of Korea.
authors: Sung-Eun
authors: SE
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Environmental Engineering, Kumoh National Institute of Technology, Daehak-ro 61, Gumi, Gyeongbuk 730-701, Republic of Korea.
authors: Tae-Oh
authors: TO
authors: Kim