State-of-the-art application of electrochemical processes to waste management

This paper outlines electrochemical technologies that have been developed by AEA technology (formerly the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority) for the treatment of liquid wastes. These include: electroflotation/electroflocculation for suspended solids removal; electrically enhances filtration technology, electrochemical oxidation of organic materials into CO2 and H2O; electrochemical reduction of nitrate compounds into N2 and H2O; electrochemical deposition of RuO2·H2O from LLLW comprising the nitrosyl complex; electrochemical ion-exchange for trace metal removal and electro-osmotic dewatering for sludge thickening and concentrating slurries to accommodate cementing. The implementation of electrochemical technologies to the treatment and waste management of a low level liquid effluent (comprising NaNO3), arising in a commercial reprocessing plant, will be used as an example to demonstrate the feasibility of applying electrochemical processing. (author)