Electrolysis of source separated urine is an efficient technology for COD and ammonia removal. Despite a huge of research about electrochemical treatment of wastewater the formation and emission of toxic and carcinogenic disinfection by-products (DBPs), is still not understoood in detail. The aim of this masterthesis is to contribute to the optimisation of the electrolysis of stored urine by a better understanding of the DBP formation.
For this purpose two control variables, anode material and current density, are investigated. DBP formation was analysed in nine galvanostatic experiments with the anode materials boron-doped diamond (BDD), iridium dioxide (Ti/IrO₂) and graphite. Current densities of 5, 10, 15 and 20 mA cm^-2 were applied to a discontinuous electrolysis cell filled with 350 mL of stored urine. The gas above the electrolyte was extracted and drawn through two traps in series filled with dodecane by a gas pump. Periodically taken samples from the reactor were analysed with GCMS, IC and Hach Dr. Lange tests for concentrations of six selected DBPs, COD, ammonia, Chloride and Chlorate. Samples from the raps were analysed for DBP concentrations. [...]