Water - in the context of an inland water source - is complex when used as an object of research. Often when using river water samples, researchers struggle to find the desired composition. Therefore, a simple and controlled method is needed to produce test samples with specific substance compositions. This study aims to use electrolysis to produce artificial heavy metal waste. Iron (Fe) and copper (Cu) provided the electrodes and water the electrolytes. Electrolysis of water with Fe electrodes produced Fe3+ ions and Fe(OH)3 precipitation. Electrolysis of water with Cu electrodes produced Cu2+ ions and Cu(OH)2 precipitation. Electrolyte samples were collected at intervals of 30 min for 180 min and were tested with atomic absorption spectroscopy. Fe and Cu concentrations increased during electrolysis. Electrolysis can therefore be used to produce artificial heavy metal waste cheaply and on a small scale.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.