Pipeline electrode assembly reactor for in-transit electro-detoxification of medical wastewater

High-risk toxic medical wastewater containing pharmaceutical residues and pathogens is highly toxic to aquatic ecosystems and public health. Herein, we developed a pipeline electrode assembly reactor (PEAR) by embedding a tubular concentric membrane electrode (TCME) into stainless steel pipeline for in-transit electro-detoxification of medical wastewater. The TCME configuration with synergistic alignment of electric field, flow field, and concentration field enhanced mass transfer by providing a uniform and enlarged electroactive interface. Based on a porous titanium suboxide (TiSO) anode and stainless-steel pipeline cathode, simulations and experiments revealed that forced convection reduced the viscous boundary layer by 99.9% to increase the mass transfer coefficient by 5.3–18.3 times (up to 4.8 × 10 −5  m s −1 ) and active site density by 42.3% at flow rate of 150 mL min −1 . The intensified interfacial transport facilitated coupled direct electron transfer and radical-mediated oxidation, which achieved efficient degradation of carbamazepine (CBZ; k  = 0.19 min −1 ) and 5.9-log inactivation of Bacillus anthracis endospores through coat disruption and intracellular oxidation. The PEAR could remove ≥95% COD with low energy consumption (0.4–1.8 kWh m −3 ) over 30 days of continuous operation, demonstrating excellent stability, scalability and energy efficiency. This study provides an integratable, scalable and chemical-free strategy for in-transit electro-detoxification of high-risk toxic medical wastewater.