Revolutionizing Strongly Acidic Electrolyzed Water Production: A Breakthrough in Membrane-Free Pump-Suction Electrochemical System

Disinfection measures are crucial for preventing the spread of pathogens and serve as a vital barrier to public health threats. Among these measures, disinfectants offer distinct advantages in various applications due to their convenience, adaptability, and efficient antimicrobial properties. Acid electrolyzed water (AEW), particularly its form known as strongly acidic electrolyzed water (AcEW), has emerged as a preferred choice in many disinfection scenarios owing to its cost-effectiveness, potent disinfection ability, and environmental friendliness. However, the conventional diaphragm electrolysis technique used for AcEW production faces challenges such as limited mass transfer efficiency and the high costs and energy consumption associated with ion exchange membranes. To address these issues, this study proposes a low-cost, energy-efficient, and stable membrane-free pump-suction electrochemical system for AcEW production. The system employs a 3D porous filter cartridge anode, which provides numerous electrocatalytic sites. The pump-suction mechanism enhances Cl^- transfer to the anode. It increases the reaction contact time, inhibits the diffusion of H⁺ and available chlorine concentration (ACC), optimizes acid-base separation, and enhances the purification of ACC to improve the system's preparation efficiency and disinfection performance.