Analysis of Energetic Species Caused by Contact Glow Discharge Electrolysis in Aqueous Solution

Contact glow discharge electrolysis is a non-Faradaic electrochemical process with an abnormal relationship between the current and voltage. Hydroxyl radicals, hydrogen radicals and hydrogen peroxide can be produced under the glow discharge, which are often used to degrade organic contaminants in aqueous solution. In this study, with 4-nitrophenol taken as an example of contaminants and tert-butanol as a scavenger of hydroxyl radicals, the role of energetic species in degrading organic compounds was examined in detail. Moreover, the effects of the applied voltage, solution conductivity and pH on the formation of three energetic species were also observed. The formation rate constants of the three energetic species were calculated based on the experimental data.