Electrocoagulation for the efficient removal of Eriochrome Black T from wastewater using copper electrodes

Abstract

The present study is based on the application of the electrocoagulation process in removal of Eriochrome Black T dye pollutant. It is found that many factors like voltage, temperature, number of pairs of electrodes, contact time, inter electrode distance are affecting the electrocoagulation. As voltage is increased from 5 V DC to 30 V DC the removal efficiency increases linearly and attained 98.3% at 13 V DC and beyond that the removal of dye is constant. The temperature plays important role in electrocoagulation and maximum removal was observed at 28 °C, at high temperature electrocoagulation decreases. It is also found that inter-electrode distance of 0.5 cm is more favourable for removal. As the number of pair of electrodes increases the removal capacity also increases. If there is a rise in concentration of the solution from 10 ppm to 1000 ppm the efficiency decreases from 99.2% to 63.6%. The chemical oxygen demand of the treated solution drops from 1600 to 320 ppm under 13 V DC, 180 s of contact time for 25 ppm of dye solution. The energy consumption, anode dissolution also plays a crucial role in removal of dye.