Hydroxyl radical electrochemically generated with water as the complete atom source and its environmental application

The most reactive hydroxyl radical (^•OH) was generated by electrochemical approach with safe water as the complete atom source. The direct evidence for ^•OH formation was obtained by electron spin resonance method. The powerful ^•OH electrochemically generated could effectively degrade organic pollutants and reduce the toxicity of wastewater. Electrochemical disinfection by ^"OH was considerably efficient even without the aid of active chlorine. Bacteria inactivation of 99.99% was achieved for contact time of 30 min and current density of 5 mA·cm⁻². In comparison with active chlorine, ^•OH is rather attractive as a promising environmentally benign disinfectant and opens a new route for microbial inactivation. Supported by the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province, China (Grant No. Z505060) and China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (Grant No. 2005038290)