Hybrid Process of Electrochemistry with Magnetite Nanoparticles for Treatment of Turbid Water

Abstract

Magnetic nanoparticles are now being investigated widely in field of water treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of electrocoagulation process combined with addition of magnetite nanoparticles as a turbidity removal process. Bentonite was used as source of turbidity for the synthetic turbid water. Experiments were conducted in a bench scales electrocoagulation reactor where voltage was applied across a perforated plate of aluminum as anode, and iron mesh as cathode. Commercial grade of magnetite (Fe3O4) with an average nanoparticle size of 50 nm was used. The effect of some factors such as initial pH of the solution (5-9), current density (5-25 mA/cm2), and magnetite dosage (0.4-2.5 gm) on the efficiency of the process were studied. The residual turbidity obtained by using electrocoagulation process alone was (7.47 NTU) from initial turbidity of (200 NU) at constant conditions of pH 6, current density 15 mA/cm2 and electrolysis time 20 min. While under these same conditions the combined electrocoagulation + magnetite process with the added (1.4 gm) of magnetite and under the same operating conditions the residual turbidity was (4.34 NTU), which indicate that the magnetite nanoparticles enhanced the electrocoagulation process.