Reactor design as a critical input in the electrochemical production of peroxoacetic acid

In the present work, the influence of the most critical inputs affecting reactor design for the simultaneous electrochemical production of peroxoacetic acid (PAA) and hydrogen peroxide are studied. Based on our previous findings, we studied the role of the ratio between the volume of the solution (related to the chemical equilibrium between PAA and hydrogen peroxide) and the intensity (related to the rate and efficiency of the electrochemical processes) for a reactor equipped with a boron-doped diamond anode and a gas diffusion cathode (GDE reactor). Moreover, we tested the performance of a jet-based reactor for the production of PAA. According to the results, it can be stated that the production of PAA is robust and stable when working at volume:intensity ratios equal or higher than 8.12 L A−1. Moreover, it was found that current densities ≈27 A m−2 are suitable for both reactor designs. Finally, it was observed that the production rate of PAA is higher for the GDE reactor due to the higher value of the volume:intensity ratio, the higher relative cathode versus anode area and the reactor configuration (anode–cathode). This complex scenario demonstrates the key role of the reactor design and clarifies the future research lines that have to be further developed towards the efficient electrochemical production of peroxoacetic acid