Development of Electrochemical Oxygen Demand Measurement Cells Using a Diamond Electrode

Electrolytic cells for electrochemical oxygen demand (ECOD) measurements based on total electrolytic decomposition at a boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrode were developed for rapid measurement of organic pollutants at low concentrations. Using improved electrolytic cells designed for efficient mass transfer, the ECOD for 10 μM potassium hydrogen phthalate (theoretical ECOD: 2.3 mg-O2 L–1) was determined in a relatively short electrolysis time. Thus, ECOD measurements using these cells would be useful for estimating organic water pollution in industrial waste and lake water.