Decolorization of the Real Textile Effluent by Electrocoagulation Process using Monopolar Iron Electrodes

Color is one of the indices of water pollution. Discharge of colored effluent can damage to receiving water resources. One of the proposed methods for treating dyeing wastewater is electrocoagulation process. In this study, decolorization of the real textile effluent by electrocoagulation process using monopolar iron electrodes was studied. This study was run experimentally in the electrochemical batch reactor with a useful volume of 0.5 L. Reactor was equipped with 4 iron plate electrodes that were connected to direct current (DC) power in monopolar mode. The 400mL of wastewater into the reactor in each stage of test and effects of operation parameters such as current density (5.02-26.04 mA), reaction time (20-60 min) and the pH of wastewater (pH=4-9) were studied in color and COD removal efficiency. The results showed that the color and COD removal efficiency increases with increasing of the current density, reaction time and pH. Optimum operation conditions were observed in current density (15.62 mA/cm2), retention time (60 minutes) and pH=9. In this condition, color & COD removals and the electrical energy consumption were 92%, 89% and 26.25kWhm-3 respectively. This study showed that electrocoagulation process with iron electrodes in decolorization of textile wastewater is an effective and efficient method.