Efficiency of Electrical Coagulation Process in Reduction of Water

Turbidity and colloidal factors are good shelters for growth and transmission of biological parameters as well as the factors affecting water usage from aesthetic point of view. Coagulating agents such as metal hydroxides are produced by the process of electrolysis. The coagulating agent combines with the pollutants to form large size flocs. This study aimed to investigate the efficiency of electrocoagulation-electrofloatation in removal of turbidity from aquatic environments.

In a laboratory-scale fundamental-applicable study a plexiglass electrocoagulation reactor (24 ×17 ×18 cm) was made. 4 iron/aluminum plates (electrode) with a dimension of 15 ×16 cm and thickness of 1mm were placed in parallel and 1. 5 cm apart in the tank. A DC power supply with adjustable voltage (0-60 v) and amperage (0-6 amps) was used.

: The results showed that the highest turbidity removal from solution was obtained by aluminum electrode (97. 60 %) at pH of 7، potential difference of 50 volts، and contact time of 30 minutes. The maximum rate of turbidity removal from aqueous solution by using iron electrodes (89. 92%) was achieved at pH=7، potential difference of 50 volts، and contact time of 30 minutes.

based on experiments'' results، using electrocoagulation-electrofloatation has an appropriate efficiency in turbidity removal. It can also be concluded that the efficiency of Al electrode to remove turbidity from solution is higher than that of Fe electrode.