Some recent research has indicated that a new technology may have the
potential to lower bromide concentrations in drinking water sources. Electrolysis
is used to oxidize bromide to bromine (Br2) which is volatile. Bromine would hydrolyze to hypobromous acid or hypobromite at pHs greater
than 3.4. However, at the anode where bromide is oxidized to bromine, water can also be
oxidized to hydrogen ions and oxygen, producing a very low pH and significant volumes of very fine oxygen bubbles, favoring bromine over hypobromite. Under these conditions bromine will
volatilize. In recent studies, this process has been shown to be able to remove
up to 45% of bromide found the California State Water Project, a source of
drinking water for 40 million people in California and a source that can have very
high bromide concentrations. The objective of this paper is to present modifications
to this process to increase bromide removal efficiency. Includes 5 references, table, figures.