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A single cell electrochemical reactor that utilizes a proton exchange membrane (PEM) as a solid electrolyte is being investigated and developed at Texas A&M University for post-treatment of reclaimed waters with low or negligible electrolyte content. Post-treatment is a final polishing of reclaimed waste waters prior to reuse and constitutes removing organic impurities at levels as high as 100 ppm to <500 ppb total organic carbon (TOC) content and provides disinfection. The system does not utilize or produce either expendable hardware components or chemicals and has no moving parts. This paper discusses a single cell reactor concept; test system design; the role of the proton exchange membrane; and the principle of organic impurity oxidation at PEM interfacial reaction zones. The fabrication performance evaluation; design and sizing of a prototype system are discussed. Test data and kinetic analysis are presented.

Electrooxidation is a means of removing organic solutes directly from waste waters without the use of chemical expendables. Research sponsored by NASA Johnson Space Center is currently being pursued at Texas A&M University to demonstrate the feasibility of the concept for oxidation of organic impurities common to urine, shower waters and space habitat humidity condensates. Electrooxidation of urine and waste water ersatz was experimentally demonstrated. This paper discusses the electrooxidation principle, reaction kinetics, efficiency, power, size, experimental test results and water reclamation applications. Process operating potentials and the use of anodic oxidation potentials that are sufficiently low to avoid oxygen formation and chloride oxidation are described. The design of a novel electrochemical system that incorporates a membrane-based electrolyte based on parametric test data and current fuel cell technology is presented.