Electrochemical oxidation of sulfite ions in aqueous solutions

Abstract

Gaseous pollutants that affect human health, destroy vegetation and damage materials and art treasures can be converted into harmless components by electrochemical reactions. Electrochemical gas purification methods can be applied basically in two steps. In the first step, gases to be removed are absorbed in an aqueous electrolyte. Then, in the second step, they can be converted into harmless components via electrochemical oxidation or electrochemical reduction. This study investigated the feasibility of electrochemical removal of sulfite ions arising from the absorption of sulfur dioxide in an aqueous electrolyte. The removal efficiency, current efficiency, and energy consumption were determined at different initial sulfite ion and electrolyte concentrations and applied currents. Furthermore, linear sweep voltammetry studies were performed using a graphite electrode in sulfuric acid. It has been concluded from all these experiments that sulfur dioxide can successfully be removed using an electrochemical method.