Particulate Solids Removal from Synthetic and Real Turbid Water and Wastewater by Electro coagulation Using Vertical Expanded Al Anode

Abstract

The performance of an innovative cell design in removing particulate solids from synthetic turbid water by electrocoagulation has been investigated. The cell consists of two concentric vertical cylindrical Al-electrodes; the outer electrode is a cylindrical solid Al -cathode, whereas the inner electrode is an expanded cylindrical Al -anode. The distance between the two electrodes is 1 cm apart. The performance of the present cell has been measured in terms of % removal of particulate solids and power consumption. The effect of key parameters such as electrolysis time, current density, pH, initial particulate solid concentration, NaCl concentration and solution velocity on the % removal of particulate solids has been investigated. The results revealed that as current density increases the % removal increases. Whereas as NaCl concentration and solution velocity increase, the % removal decreases. The optimum pH corresponding to the maximum % particulate solids removal and minimum power consumption is 10. At the optimum condition an energy consumption of 0.48 kW.h is required for the removal of one kg of particulate solids. Kinetic study of the present time data revealed that the rate of the removal follows second-order kinetic model. The performance of the present cell has been proven to be efficient for the treatment of real raw and wastewater.