Electrochemical nitrate reduction of brines: Improving selectivity to N2 by the use of Pd/activated carbon fiber catalyst

Contamination of water by nitrate has become a worldwide problem, being high levels of this ion detected in the surface, and groundwater, mainly due to the intensive use of fertilizers, and to the discharge of not properly treated effluents. This study aims to evaluate the electrocatalytic process, carried out in a cell divided into two compartments by a cation exchange membrane, and with a copper plate electrode as cathode, identifying the effects of current density, pH, the use of a catalyst in the nitrate reduction, and the production of gaseous compounds. The highest nitrate reduction was obtained with a current density of 2.0 mA cm−2, without pH adjustment and, in this condition, nitrite ion was mainly formed. The application of activated carbon fibers with palladium (1% wt. and 3% wt.) in an alkaline medium presented an increase in gaseous compounds formation. With 2.0 mA cm−2, pH adjustment, and applying 3% wt. Pd catalyst, the highest selectivity to gaseous compounds was obtained (95%) with no nitrite detection. These results highlight the viability of using the process developed at this work for the treatment of nitrate contaminated waters.