Assessment of Electrocoagulation method to reduce total suspended solids, turbidity and hardness of overflow Thickener of hematite in Gole-Gohar Sirjan

Electrocoagulation process is including new and developing processes which used to remove suspended matter. In this study, assessment of electrocoagulation to reduce total suspended solids (TSS), turbidity and hardness of the overflow Thickener of hematite in Gole-Gohar Sirjan has been done. Therefore, in a laboratory scale of glass container were made with volume 3 liter and equipped to 6 electrodes. The electrodes are made of iron, steel and aluminum, which are located separately on each of the electrodes. Parameters such as electrode material, contact time and voltage were studied. The results showed that the aluminum electrode than to the electrodes of iron and steel have the highest TSS removal. However, voltage of 6V and retention time of 5 minutes is removed 88.5 percent of TSS. Although, the steel electrode in voltage of 6 V and retention time of 15 minutes have maximum turbidity equal to 81% (NTU 21). Also in various voltages and different retention time, there is no significant change in hardness. Based on technical and economic studies, capital, operating and maintenance costs for electrodes of aluminum, iron and steel were calculated separately. The results illustrated that iron electrode with respect to the total performance costs (878 Ria) is preferred in compare to steel electrodes (2978 Ria) and aluminum electrode (3160 Ria). The iron electrode with respect to ease of operation, the settling of solid sludge, dewatering capability suitable and less sludge production volume, is appropriate.