Use of low current densities in electrolyses with conductive-diamond electrochemical — Oxidation to disinfect treated wastewaters for reuse

In the search for new disinfection technologies for reused water, in this work the effect of current density on the disinfection capability, during the electrolyses with conductive diamond anodes of the effluent of a municipal wastewater treatment plant was evaluated. It was found that this electrolytic technology can disinfect completely for current densities ranging from 1.3 to 130 A m^{− 2}, but the disinfection rate and chlorine speciation are significantly affected by particular current density applied. In order to avoid the occurrence of non desired species, the lower value of this range is proposed. In those conditions, complete disinfection can be obtained and hypochlorite and chloramines are the main species, not being produced chlorate, perchlorate or organo-chlorinates species.