Wastewater nitrates (NO3
–) represent
an untapped source for nutrient recovery. This study explores the
effects of NO3
– concentration ranging
from 0.1 to 1 M and pH conditions of 8, 10, and 14 on the electrochemical
reduction to ammonia (NH3) with polycrystalline Cu electrodes.
Cyclic voltammograms prove pH- and concentration-dependent reaction
kinetics. Chronoamperometry tests probed the reaction selectivity
to NH3 production for a fixed potential across different
pH conditions. The maximum NH3 Faradaic efficiency achieved
was 46% ± 11% for 1 M NaNO3 at pH 14 at −0.55
V vs the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE), while the minimum was
25% ± 6% for 1 M NaNO3 at pH 8. Distinctly, at pH
8 and 10, 0.1 M NaNO3 results in higher NH3 Faradaic
efficiencies compared to the 1 M solution. Product quantification
reveals that as the pH decreases, more charge is utilized for the
formation of NO2
as
compared to NH3 as a product. Large trial-to-trial uncertainties
motivated the application of in situ electrochemical impedance spectroscopy
to provide insights into the causal factors. Fitted parameters from
impedance measurements correlate with measured contributions of net
charge utilized for NH3 and NO2
– production. Trial-to-trial variations map with changes in both the
charge-transfer resistance and the effective double-layer capacitance.
Changes in surface roughness and consequently the electrochemically
active surface area are more dominant for 0.1 M NaNO3 solutions,
while other variations play a significant role for 1 M NaNO3 tests. Overall, these results indicate that catalytic performance
of NO3
– reduction on Cu is highly sensitive
to pH, concentration, secondary ions, and surface composition.