Effect of Inter Electrode Distance on Electrochemical Mineralization of Calcium Carbonate in Mildly Acidic Environments

Authors

• Irene Walker, Colorado School of MinesFollow
• Ivy Wu, National Laboratory of the RockiesFollow
• Steven DeCaluwe, Colorado School of MinesFollow
• Robert Bell, National Laboratory of the RockiesFollow
• Kerry Rippy, National Laboratory of the RockiesFollow

Keywords

Mineralization, electrochemical mineralization, calcium carbonate, inter electrode distance, precipitation efficiency, chronoamperometry, microscopy

Abstract

The effect of inter electrode distance (IED) on electrochemical mineralization in a parallel plate cell with a stainless-steel working electrode is presented. Three IEDs were tested, 6.5 mm, 15.5 mm, and 22.0 mm, for their water reduction effectiveness to create a region of local alkalinity that stimulates calcium carbonate precipitation in mildly acidic conditions. Chronoamperometry at -1.6 V for 30 minutes with ex-situ optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used. At the smallest IEDs, crystal clusters formed in growth-favored regimes as compared to the largest IED, where nucleation dominated, leading to encasement of the SS mesh. Rapid precipitation suffered efficiency losses, indicating diminishing returns at higher supersaturations. Future work directions indicated by this work include more direct measurement of the strength and size of the alkaline diffusion layer and effect of factors such as inter-electrode volume and ease of diffusion on current and precipitation rates.

Recommended Citation

Walker, Irene; Wu, Ivy; DeCaluwe, Steven; Bell, Robert; and Rippy, Kerry (2026) "Effect of Inter Electrode Distance on Electrochemical Mineralization of Calcium Carbonate in Mildly Acidic Environments," Reviews, Analyses, and Instructional Studies in Electrochemistry (RAISE): Vol. 2, Article 2.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.70163/2997-8947.1008
Available at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/raise/vol2/iss1/2