Quantification of Reductive Species Produced by High Voltage Electrical Discharges in Water

Summary: The formation of reductive species has already been documented in various advanced oxidation–reduction processes (AORP) such as ultrasound and radiation processes. Reductive species are important in degrading mixed aqueous wastes and nitro‐ and chloro‐contaminants to achieve higher degradation efficiencies than can be attained by the reaction of contaminants with hydroxyl radicals (the primary reactive species produced by all AORP). The present study quantifies the total amount of reductive species produced by aqueous phase high voltage pulsed electrical discharge, using chemical probes tetranitromethane and nitroblue tetrazolium chloride. The effects of various electrical, physical, and chemical parameters on the generation of reductive species are investigated. magnified image