Electrocoagulation treatment process is widely used in labscale experiments as a single or combined process. Do think that this process is easily scaled-up to be used in a larger scale?
Dear Zakaria,
Electrocoagulation (EC) is a promising alternative to chemical coagulation and flocculation, and operates in a continuous flow. The metals released from the anode during electrolysis cause the coagulation of pollutants (such as silica, heavy metals and colloidal and suspended solid particles), which contributes to their separation from water. Electrocoagulation can be deployed as a convenient mobile solution powered by electricity, and it does not require the transport of chemicals to the sites. However, the effectiveness of electrocoagulation is regularly affected by fouling (deposition of particles on the surface) of the electrodes. An obstruction ensues and the system must be shut down in order to clean the electrode and then restart it.
The benefits of electrocoagulation:
Less sensitivity to variations in charges and pollutants than physicochemical installations; No or few chemical reagents (flocculants, coagulants, polymers ...); Volume of sludge less than 3% of the initial volume to be treated (10 to 30 times less than a conventional method); Quick return on investment; Reduced operating costs; Sanitization and decontamination of water; Possibility of upgrading sludge and reusing water.
Existing achievements are very numerous and generally small. Their advantage is that they require little maintenance, little monitoring by the operator and require little energy. The energy expenditure varies from one application to another, it is often between 0.5 and 4 kWh per m³ treated. The consequence is that this technique is often cheaper than most other technologies with more consistent and reliable results.
Regards
Bachir ACHOUR
The process is very efficient and economical for the treatment of such simulated wastewater using either iron or aluminum electrodes.
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