Pilot Scale Study of Tubular Continuous Flow Electrocoagulation for Color Removal in Textile Industry Wastewater Treatment

Abstract:

Electrochemical methods, such as electrocoagulation, have proved to be incredibly successful in the treatment of wastewater and the reduction of pollutants, specifically in terms of color content. The objective of this investigation is to enhance the treatment effectiveness of color content in wastewater produced by the textile industry. To accomplish this, a continuous tubular-based reactor for electrocoagulation is employed. The reactor system comprises of stainless steels rods and a helical structure for the cathodic component (SS 304), as well as an iron pipe for the anodic component (Fe). By conducting trial tests and varying the current density within a range of 465.28 A/m² to 823.19 A/m², with a current value ranging from 125-200 amperes and a voltage of 5-22 volts, significant reduction in color content in textile industry wastewater is achieved. The inclusion of an iron anode in the tubular-based electrocoagulation reactor results in a substantial reduction in color parameters, with levels reaching as high as 94.0-99.9%. The energy consumption required to achieve this level of efficiency varies from 0.25 to 1.69 kWh/m³. Ultimately, the treated water produced by the tubular reactor system demonstrates exceptional effectiveness in reducing the color parameters of wastewater generated by the textile industry.

• Periodical: Engineering Headway (Volume 23)
• Pages: 3-12
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/p-vGFZA5
• Online since: July 2025
• Authors: Rachmad Ardhianto*, Valencia Safir Maharani, Abdul Rokhman
• Keywords: Electrocoagulation, Electrode Configuration, Textile Industry, Tubular Continuous Reactor

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