Removal of Humic Acid from Groundwater by Electrocoagulation

Removal of natural organic matter and arsenic from water by electrocoagulation/flotation continuous flow reactor

“…The NOM removal efficiency for the reactor steady state regime time based on UV 254 absorbance and DOC was 63% and 54% respectively. These results confirm previously reported studies performed with the model waters containing high NOM concentration and in batch treatment mode, that the ECF process is more efficient when the initial treated water pH is adjusted to 5 [10][11][12][13]. Therefore, for the following experimental work the pH value of the raw groundwater was adjusted to 5.…”

“…4c) unexpectedly was achieved for the highest inter electrode distance studied (2.8 cm). This is in contrast with the results Feng et al obtained [12], however Yildiz et al reported highest NOM removal efficiency for the inter electrode distance of 5 cm [10,11]. The NOM removal efficiency based on UV 254 absorbance and DOC was 77% and 69%, respectively.…”

“…Initial water pH value affects either distribution of aluminum hydrolyses products or structure of NOM directly [24,25]. When pH value is higher, NOM takes more negative charge, and process needs more Al 3+ to neutralize the negative charge reducing removal efficiency [12]. Therefore, it is evident that ECF process under higher operating current density boost water pH increase over the treatment time reducing NOM removal efficiency.…”

“…Recent technical improvements, combined with the growing need for small scale decentralized water and waste water treatment facilities, have led to a re-evolution of the ECF [9]. A literature survey indicates that most of the studies on NOM removal by ECF process have been carried out in batch treatment mode using model water [10][11][12][13]. Only modest attention has been paid to the ECF treatment of groundwater containing a high NOM concentration and in the continuous flow mode.…”

Natural organic matter (NOM) removal by electrochemical methods — A review

“…EC efficiently reduced bacterial load, water turbidity and chemical contaminants such as sulfates, nitrates and phosphates. 97.8% of humic acid was removed from groundwater when the electrode interval, current density and the initial pH value were optimized [58].…”