Over the last decades, research efforts have been made at developing more effective technologies for the remediation of waters containing persistent organic pollutants. Among the various technologies, the so-called electrochemical advanced oxidation processes (EAOPs) have caused increasing interest. These technologies are based on the electrochemical generation of strong oxidants such as hydroxyl radicals ( OH). Here, we present an exhaustive review on the treatment of various synthetic and real wastewaters by five key EAOPs, i.e., anodic oxidation (AO), anodic oxidation with electrogenerated H 2 O 2 (AO-H 2 O 2 ), electro-Fenton (EF), photoelectro-Fenton (PEF) and solar photoelectro-Fenton (SPEF), alone and in combination with other methods like biological treatment, electrocoagulation, coagulation and membrane filtration processes. Fundamentals of each EAOP are also given.

Electrochemical advanced oxidation processes: A review on their application to synthetic and real wastewaters

Electrochemistry will play a vital role in creating sustainable energy solutions in the future, particularly for the conversion and storage of electrical into chemical energy in electrolysis cells, and the reverse conversion and utilization of the stored energy in galvanic cells. The common challenge in both processes is the development of-preferably abundant-nanostructured materials that can catalyze the electrochemical reactions of interest with a high rate over a sufficiently long period of time. An overall understanding of the related processes and mechanisms occurring under the operation conditions is a necessity for the rational design of materials that meet these requirements. A promising strategy to develop such an understanding is the investigation of the impact of material properties on reaction activity/selectivity and on catalyst stability under the conditions of operation, as well as the application of complementary in situ techniques for the investigation of catalyst structure and composition.

Oxygen electrochemistry as a cornerstone for sustainable energy conversion

Coronary stents: a materials perspective.

Electrocatalysis: understanding the success of DSA®

We have assembled extensive information on the cradle-to-gate environmental burdens of 63 metals in their major use forms, and illustrated the interconnectedness of metal production systems. Related cumulative energy use, global warming potential, human health implications and ecosystem damage are estimated by metal life cycle stage (i.e., mining, purification, and refining). For some elements, these are the first life cycle estimates of environmental impacts reported in the literature. We show that, if compared on a per kilogram basis, the platinum group metals and gold display the highest environmental burdens, while many of the major industrial metals (e.g., iron, manganese, titanium) are found at the lower end of the environmental impacts scale. If compared on the basis of their global annual production in 2008, iron and aluminum display the largest impacts, and thallium and tellurium the lowest. With the exception of a few metals, environmental impacts of the majority of elements are dominated by the purification and refining stages in which metals are transformed from a concentrate into their metallic form. Out of the 63 metals investigated, 42 metals are obtained as co-products in multi output processes. We test the sensitivity of varying allocation rationales, in which the environmental burden are allocated to the various metal and mineral products, on the overall results. Monte-Carlo simulation is applied to further investigate the stability of our results. This analysis is the most comprehensive life cycle comparison of metals to date and allows for the first time a complete bottom-up estimate of life cycle impacts of the metals and mining sector globally. We estimate global direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions in 2008 at 3.4 Gt CO2-eq per year and primary energy use at 49 EJ per year (9.5% of global use), and report the shares for all metals to both impact categories.

http://philip.nuss.me/wp-content/uploads/2014_SA_LCA-of-Metals_PLoSOne.pdf

Life Cycle Assessment of Metals: A Scientific Synthesis

Ferrous Metals and Their Alloys: Iron and Steels.- Nickel and Nickel Alloys.- Cobalt and Cobalt Alloys.- Manganese and Manganese Alloys.- Common Nonferrous Metals: Aluminium and Aluminium Alloys.- Copper and Copper Alloys.- Zinc and Zinc Alloys.- Lead and Lead Alloys.- Tin and Tin Alloys.- Less Common Nonferrous Metals: Alkali Metals.- Alkaline-Earth Metals.- Refractory and Reactive Metals.- Precious and Noble Metals.- Platinum Group Metals.- Rare Earth Metals.- Uranides.- Semiconductors: Bibliogrphical References.- Band Theory of Bonding in Crystalline Solids.- Electrical Classification of Solids.- Semiconductor Classes.- Semiconductors Physical Quantities.- Transport Properties.- Physical Properties of Semiconductors.- Applications of Semiconductors.- Selected Monographies.- Semiconductor Wafer Processing.- The P-N Junction.- Superconductors: Bibliographical References.- General Description.- Superconductor Types.- Basic Theory.- The Meissner-Ochsenfeld Effect.- History.- Industrial Uses and Applications.- Magnetic Materials: Bibliographical References.- Magnetic Physical Quantities.- Classification of Magnetic Materials.- Ferromagnetic Materials.- Insulators and Dielectrics: Bibliographical References.- Physical Quantities of Dielectrics.- Physical Properties of Insulators.- Dielectric Behavior.- Dielectric Breakdown Mechanisms.- Electro-Mechanical Coupling.- Piezoelectricity.- Ferroelectrics.- Aging of Ferroelectrics.- Industrial Dielectrics Classification.- Selected Properties of Insulators and Dielectric Materials.- Miscellaneous Electrical Materials: Thermocouple Materials.- Electron-emitting Materials.- Photocathode Materials.- Secondary Emission.- Electrode Materials.- Industrial Anode Materials.- Electrodes for Corrosion Protection and Control.- Ceramics and Glasses: Ceramics and Refractories.- Definitions.- Basic Classification.- Glasses.- Refractories.- Advanced Ceramics.- Polymers and Elastomers: Fundamentals and Definistions.- Properties and Characteristics of Polymers.- Thermoplastics.- Thermosets.- Rubbers and Elastomers.- Physical Properties of Polymers.- IUPAC Abbreviation Names of Polymers and Elastomers.- Further Reading.- Minerals, Ores and Gemstones: Bibliographical References.- Definitions.- Mineralogical, Physical and Chemical Properties.- Strunz Classification of Minerals.- Mineral Properties Table.- Minerals Synonyms.- Rocks and Meteorites: Bibliographical References.- Introduction.- Different Types of Rocks.- Igneous Rocks.- Sedimentary Rocks.- Metamorphic Rocks.- Meteorites.- Physical Properties of Common Rocks.- Timbers and Woods: General Descriprion.- Properties of Woods.- Applications.- Wood Performance in Various Corrosives.- Building and Construction Materials: Portland Cement.- Aggregates.- Mortars and Concrete.- Ceramics for Construction.- Building Stones.- Composite Materials: Basic Definitions and Equations.- Polymer Matrix Composites.- Metal Matrix Composites.- Ceramic Matrix Composites.- Gases and Liquids: Properties of Gases.- Properties of Liquids.- Nuclear Materials: Introduction.- Types of Nuclear Reactors.- Nuclear Fuels.- Moderator Materials.- Coolants or Heat Transfer Fluids.- Cladding Materials.- Control Materials.- Shielding Materials.- Appendices: Periodic Chart of the Elements.- Selected Physical Properties of the Elements.- Earth Crust and Sea Water Abundance of the Elements.- Resources, Reserve, Reserve Base and McElvey Diagram.- Geochemical Classification of the Elements.- Historical Names of the Elements.- Natural Radioactivity.- Names of Transfermium Elements.- Physical Properties of Water.- Physical Properties of Ice.- Crystallography and Crystallochemistry.- Propertie

Materials Handbook: A Concise Desktop Reference

Among the numerous base metals tested for DSA® type electrodes (e.g., titanium and its alloys, zirconium, niobium etc.), tantalum is a potentially excellent substrate owing to its good electrical conductivity and corrosion resistance, and the favourable dielectric properties of its oxide. Nevertheless, a DSA® type electrode fabricated on a tantalum substrate would be very expensive due to the high cost of the metal. To prepare an anode combining the excellent properties of tantalum at reasonable price, a new material has been developed in our laboratory. This consists of a common base metal (e.g., Cu) covered with a thin tantalum coating. This tantalum layer was obtained by molten salt electroplating in a LiF–NaF–K2TaF7 melt at 800°C. Thus, an anode of the type Metal/Ta/Ta2O5–IrO2 with a surface load of 22gm-2 IrO2, submitted to the severe test conditions used in this work, exhibits a standardized lifetime tenfold greater than one made with ASTM grade 4 titanium base metal. Thus, this type of electrode might be advantageously employed as an oxygen evolution anode in acidic solutions.

Preparation of oxygen evolving electrodes with long service life under extreme conditions

Titania-rich slags with 80 mass percent TiO2 are produced in the electric arc furnaces of QIT-Fer & Titane, Inc., by the continuous smelting of hemo-ilmenite ore with anthracite coal. Titania slag represents an important feedstock for the manufacture of titanium dioxide pigment by the sulphate process. Moreover, part of the production of the titania-rich slag is further acid-leached under a high-pressure and moderate-temperature hydrometallurgical process to yield an upgraded titania slag with 94.5 mass percent TiO2, which is used in the chloride process. After describing in detail the beneficiation, chemistry, and mineralogy of the hemo-ilmenite ore, this article reviews the unique crystallochemistry and mineralogy of the titanate phases with pseudobrookite-karrooite structure and to a lesser extent silicates and oxides present in these titania-rich feedstocks, focusing on the chemical reactions occurring at each step of the pyro- and hydro-metallurgical processes. The behavior of major elements such as ...

Chemistry and mineralogy of titania-rich slags. part 1—hemo-ilmenite, sulphate, and upgraded titania slags

This invention relates to a method for electrowinning of titanium metal or titanium alloys from electrically conductive titanium mixed oxide compounds in the liquid state such as molten titania slag, molten ilmenite, molten leucoxene, molten perowskite, molten titanite, molten natural or synthetic rutile or molten titanium dioxide. The method involves providing the conductive titanium oxide compound at temperatures corresponding to the liquid state, pouring the molten material into an electrochemical reactor to form a pool of electrically conductive liquid acting as cathode material, covering the cathode material with a layer of electrolyte, such as molten salts or a solid state ionic conductor, deoxidizing electrochemically the molten cathode by direct current electrolysis. Preferably, the deoxidizing step is performed at high temperature using either a consumable carbon anode or an inert dimensionally stable anode or a gas diffusion anode. During the electrochemical reduction, droplets of liquid titanium metal or titanium alloy are produced at the slag/electrolyte interface and sink by gravity settling to the bottom of the electrochemical reactor forming, after coalescence, a pool of liquid titanium metal or titanium alloy. Meanwhile carbon dioxide or oxygen gas is evolved at the anode. The liquid metal is continuously siphoned or tapped under an inert atmosphere and cast into dense and coherent titanium metal or titanium alloy ingots.

Method for electrowinning of titanium metal or alloy from titanium oxide containing compound in the liquid state

The method relates to a pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical process for the recovery and recycling of lithium and vanadium compounds from a material comprising spent rechargeable lithium batteries, particularly lithium metal gel and solid polymer electrolyte rechargeable batteries. The method involves providing a mass of the material, hardening it by cooling at a temperature below room temperature, comminuting the mass of cooled and hardened material, digesting with an acid its ashes obtained by incineration, or its solidified salts obtained by molten salt oxidation, or the comminuted mass itself, to give a mother liquor, extracting vanadium compounds from the mother liquor, separating heavy metals and aluminium therefrom, and precipitating lithium carbonate from the remaining solution.

François Cardarelli

Papers

Materials Handbook: A Concise Desktop Reference

Preparation of oxygen evolving electrodes with long service life under extreme conditions

Chemistry and mineralogy of titania-rich slags. part 1—hemo-ilmenite, sulphate, and upgraded titania slags

Method for electrowinning of titanium metal or alloy from titanium oxide containing compound in the liquid state

A method for recycling spent lithium metal polymer rechargeable batteries and related materials