Operating the CabECO® membrane electrolytic technology in continuous mode for the direct disinfection of highly fecal-polluted water

Abstract

In this work, the CabECO® electrochemical cell is evaluated in continuous mode for the disinfection of highly fecal-polluted surface water. Results show that this cell is very efficient in the removal of Total Coliforms and Pseudomonas Aeruginosa and it can achieve decays up to 4-log units when treating 90 L h−1 with a single cell (only 24 cm2 of diamond electrode). Efficiency of the disinfection depends on the current charge applied and neither organo-chlorinated species nor perchlorates are formed at the conditions evaluated. A two-log unit sterilization can be attained with the technology, which shows worse prospects for this application than for disinfection. Electrode’s fouling caused by strongly polluted water may diminish the disinfection efficiency and it can even prevent the use of this technology in those cases.