Electrochemical nitrite and ammonia oxidation in sea water

Abstract

Nitrite and ammonia destruction from sea water by an electrochemical oxidation was investigated to determine nitrite and ammonia oxidation efficiencies. Operating conditions considered in the experimental studies included the electric current, pH, initial nitrite and ammonium concentrations and salinity. Both nitrite and ammonia oxidation processes were found to obey a zero‐order kinetics and reaction rate coefficients were a linear function of electric current and a nonlinear function of salinity. Nitrite removal was found to be significantly faster than the ammonia removal. In the presence of an electrolyte (chloride), the indirect oxidations of both nitrite and ammonia by a strong oxidant (hypochlorite) were faster than direct anodic oxidation of the pure component.

Key words:

• Nitrite and ammonia
• sea water
• electrochemical method
• kinetics