A combined electrocoagulation-sorption process applied to mixed industrial wastewater

J Hazard Mater. 2007 Jun 1;144(1-2):240-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2006.10.015. Epub 2006 Oct 12.

Abstract

The removal of organic pollutants from a highly complex industrial wastewater by a aluminium electrocoagulation process coupled with biosorption was evaluated. Under optimal conditions of pH 8 and 45.45 Am(-2) current density, the electrochemical method yields a very effective reduction of all organic pollutants, this reduction was enhanced when the biosorption treatment was applied as a polishing step. Treatment reduced chemical oxygen demand (COD) by 84%, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD(5)) by 78%, color by 97%, turbidity by 98% and fecal coliforms by 99%. The chemical species formed in aqueous solution were determined. The initial and final pollutant levels in the wastewater were monitored using UV-vis spectrometry and cyclic voltammetry. Finally, the morphology and elemental composition of the biosorbent was characterized with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersion spectra (EDS).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adsorption
  • Aluminum / chemistry
  • Color
  • Electrochemistry
  • Enterobacteriaceae / isolation & purification
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Industrial Waste
  • Nephelometry and Turbidimetry
  • Opuntia*
  • Waste Disposal, Fluid / methods*
  • Water Pollutants / chemistry*

Substances

  • Industrial Waste
  • Water Pollutants
  • Aluminum