Emerging Paradigms in Electrochemical Water Treatment: Advanced Electrode Materials, Resource Recovery, and Machine Learning
7 affiliations
- 1Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, Karwar, Jodhpur, India, 342037
- 2Nanotechnology Centre
- 3VSB Technical University of Ostrava
- 4Department of Environmental Sciences and Limnology
- 5Barkatullah University
- 6Department of Zoology and Applied Aquaculture
- 7Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology (C-MET
Abstract
Electrochemical water treatment offers a versatile approach to contaminant removal and resource recovery, although its practical performance depends on electrode properties, wastewater composition and operating conditions. This review critically examines the principal electrochemical treatment methods, including electrochemical oxidation and reduction, electro-Fenton processes, electrocoagulation, electroflotation, electrodeposition and electrodialysis. Their reaction pathways, treatment capabilities and limitations are discussed, with particular attention to the distinction between pollutant degradation, separation and recovery. Electrode development is examined through boron-doped diamond, mixed metal oxides and two-dimensional materials, including graphene derivatives, MXenes, transition-metal dichalcogenides and black phosphorus. The discussion considers how surface chemistry, electronic structure and electrode architecture influence charge transfer, reactive-species generation and ion transport, while addressing stability, material release and performance in complex wastewater matrices. Commercial implementation is assessed in relation to energy consumption, electrode lifetime, reactor design, maintenance requirements and integration with existing treatment infrastructure. The review also explores the application of machine learning to predict treatment performance, identify influential operating variables and guide material selection and process optimization. Particular emphasis is placed on data quality, model interpretability and validation beyond laboratory datasets. By connecting treatment mechanisms, electrode engineering and data-driven optimization, this review identifies the evidence and development priorities needed to advance electrochemical technologies towards reliable, economically viable water treatment.
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BibTeX
@misc{ponnada2026emerging,
title = {{Emerging Paradigms in Electrochemical Water Treatment: Advanced Electrode Materials, Resource Recovery, and Machine Learning}},
author = {Srikanth Ponnada and Anuradha Ponnada and Abhilasha Bhawsar and Subash Chandra Bose Rapaka and Rakesh K Sharma},
howpublished = {ChemRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.26434/chemrxiv.15009228/v1},
url = {https://chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.26434/chemrxiv.15009228/v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Emerging Paradigms in Electrochemical Water Treatment: Advanced Electrode Materials, Resource Recovery, and Machine Learning
AU - Srikanth Ponnada
AU - Anuradha Ponnada
AU - Abhilasha Bhawsar
AU - Subash Chandra Bose Rapaka
AU - Rakesh K Sharma
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/22
PB - ChemRxiv
DO - 10.26434/chemrxiv.15009228/v1
UR - https://chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.26434/chemrxiv.15009228/v1
AB - Electrochemical water treatment offers a versatile approach to contaminant removal and resource recovery, although its practical performance depends on electrode properties, wastewater composition and operating conditions. This review critically examines the principal electrochemical treatment methods, including electrochemical oxidation and reduction, electro-Fenton processes, electrocoagulation, electroflotation, electrodeposition and electrodialysis. Their reaction pathways, treatment capabilities and limitations are discussed, with particular attention to the distinction between pollutant degradation, separation and recovery. Electrode development is examined through boron-doped diamond, mixed metal oxides and two-dimensional materials, including graphene derivatives, MXenes, transition-metal dichalcogenides and black phosphorus. The discussion considers how surface chemistry, electronic structure and electrode architecture influence charge transfer, reactive-species generation and ion transport, while addressing stability, material release and performance in complex wastewater matrices. Commercial implementation is assessed in relation to energy consumption, electrode lifetime, reactor design, maintenance requirements and integration with existing treatment infrastructure. The review also explores the application of machine learning to predict treatment performance, identify influential operating variables and guide material selection and process optimization. Particular emphasis is placed on data quality, model interpretability and validation beyond laboratory datasets. By connecting treatment mechanisms, electrode engineering and data-driven optimization, this review identifies the evidence and development priorities needed to advance electrochemical technologies towards reliable, economically viable water treatment.
ER -