Researchers at the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) have developed an innovative electrochemical device capable of treating sewage and wastewater on-site to meet discharge standards. The team, including Dr. Sang Hoon Kim of the Extreme Materials Research Center, Dr. Jong Min Kim of the Materials Architecturing Research Center, and Dr. Sang Soo Han of the Computation Science Research Center, designed a solution to address the challenges of wastewater treatment in decentralized or rural areas where traditional systems are impractical.
Unlike conventional wastewater treatment, which relies on centralized systems with large-scale treatment plants, this new device can rapidly and completely decompose recalcitrant organic matter into inorganic substances without the need for additional transport or complex processes. This development addresses a critical limitation of simple treatment units, which typically focus only on disinfection and turbidity reduction, leaving behind toxic organic materials.
The electrochemical device uses a flow cell method to generate substantial amounts of hydrogen peroxide, a powerful oxidant, directly within the circulating wastewater. This allows for efficient mixing, oxidation, and mineralization of stubborn organic pollutants, achieving complete decomposition far more effectively than traditional methods. The device significantly reduces total organic carbon (TOC), an important measure of water quality, and meets the stricter wastewater discharge standards recently introduced by the Ministry of Environment.
In laboratory demonstrations, the KIST team achieved a 93% reduction in TOC for 50 ppm bisphenol A within just two hours, showcasing the device's efficiency. Conventional oxidation treatments often require multiple steps and produce toxic intermediates, but the KIST device simplifies the process by achieving complete mineralization, ensuring the treated water is safe for discharge.
The researchers emphasize that their device's continuous and repetitive flow design enhances decomposition efficiency compared to traditional methods. A patent for the device and its processing method is currently pending, with plans to transfer the technology for commercialization in the near future. This innovation offers a sustainable and scalable solution for treating wastewater at pollution sites, particularly in areas where centralized treatment systems are unfeasible.
