Electrochemical generation of ozone using a PEM electrolyzer at acidic pHs

This work focuses on the electrochemical production of ozone at acidic pHs, evaluating the influence of the salts in the electrolyte, temperature and pressure on the efficiency of its production. Results demonstrate that electrolysis with electrolytes containing perchlorate salts allow obtaining higher concentrations of ozone than electrolytes containing sulfates. Adding to that, the increase in the operation pressure and the decrease in temperature have a positive effect on the production of ozone. This indicates that not only the oxidation of water, but also the oxidation of oxygen is important to explain the electrochemical production of ozone. A simple model considering all these processes is formulated and validated with the experimental results that allow explaining the fundamentals of ozone production in acidic conditions.

Automated summary

This study focuses on electrochemically producing ozone in acidic conditions, finding that electrolytes containing perchlorate salts result in higher concentrations of ozone, and that increasing pressure and decreasing temperature have a positive impact on ozone production. A model considering all processes explains the fundamentals of ozone production in acidic conditions, validated by experimental results.