Electrochemical destruction of chloramines using magneli phase titanium oxide electrodes
Magneli phase (Ti4O7) electrochemical technology for rapid destruction of chloramines in drinking water. Converts chloramines to nitrogen gas, chloride, and nitrate without producing persistent free chlorine residuals, offering a chemical-free alternative for water utilities.
Overview
This solution uses Magneli phase titanium oxide (Ti4O7) electrodes to electrochemically destroy chloramines in drinking water, eliminating the need for chemical dechlorination or breakpoint chlorination. Chloramines are widely used as secondary disinfectants in municipal water systems but create challenges for utilities, including taste and odor complaints, nitrification in distribution systems, and difficulty in removal prior to discharge. The technology offers a rapid, electrically driven treatment approach that can be tuned based on influent chloride levels, producing only benign end products such as nitrogen gas, chloride, and nitrate.
Technical specifications
Key features:
- Magneli phase Ti4O7 electrodes provide high electrochemical activity and durability for water treatment
- In low-chloride waters, the system oxidizes ammonia to nitrate while releasing inorganic chloride
- In high-chloride waters, the system oxidizes chloride to free chlorine, which then converts chloramines to nitrogen gas
- A paired reducing electrode step can eliminate any residual free chlorine produced during oxidation
- Long-term electrochemical testing has demonstrated rapid ammonia oxidation to below detection limits
- Kinetics of chloride oxidation and formation of oxidized species have been characterized
- System design can be tailored to local water quality parameters, particularly background chloride concentration
Technology readiness level
The technology is at an advanced research and validation stage. The UMass WET Center research group has conducted extensive long-term electrochemical testing of Magneli phase electrodes for contaminant destruction, oxidant production, and mineralization. Ammonia oxidation to below detection limits has been demonstrated, along with characterization of chloride oxidation kinetics. Next-stage validation will test electrode performance across a range of drinking water qualities, spanning chloride levels typical of potable supplies, and will optimize a two-stage oxidizing/reducing electrode configuration. The work is positioned to deliver a targeted electrode system design suitable for pilot-scale evaluation by water utilities and treatment technology partners.
About University of Massachusetts, Amherst
UMass Amherst is a comprehensive public research university and the flagship campus of the University of Massachusetts system, with a large student body and a robust research enterprise. Industry engagement centers on company access to an integrated network of shared core facilities and co-located labs, with options for on‑site residency in an adjacent research and technology park. A dedicated industry partnerships team streamlines sponsored research, material transfer, and confidentiality agreements and connects partners to faculty expertise, prototyping, and pilot‑scale testing. Research is supported by competitive federal funding from agencies such as the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Energy, the Department of Defense, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. A technology transfer office advises on IP strategy, manages licensing, and supports new venture formation.
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