Comparison of the Removal Efficiencies for Electro-Flotation and Electrocoagulation Wastewater Treatment Methods to Treat Effluents Discharged from Electroplating Industries

Abstract:

Currently, rapid development, increasing world population, and industrialization such as electroplating sectors have caused an increase in wastewater, heavy metals, and toxic metals in the environment that directly and indirectly affect human beings and other living things. This study compared the efficiency of electro-flotation and electrocoagulation wastewater treatment methods to treat effluents discharged from electroplating industries based on removal efficiency, energy consumption, electrode consumption, and environmental aspects. Electro-flotation uses an electric current to generate hydrogen and oxygen bubbles, which allow contaminants to flow to the top of the treatment unit. However, the electrocoagulation process involves the use of direct current to accelerate the oxidation of the metal sacrificial anode and to generate positively charged ions that act as destabilizing agents for the emulsion. The electroplating wastewater sample solution (500ml) containing heavy metal ions (Zinc, Chromium, Nickel, Cadmium, and Copper) with a 50g/l metal ion concentration of each and a pH range of 7-10, were investigated using the two methods. Accordingly, the metal ions' degree of removal, energy consumption for the treatments, and electrode consumption 95-99%, 0.25-3.0 kWh/m³, and 2.0 kg/m³ respectively, were obtained using the elector-flotation. Whereas, 90–95% of metal ions' degree of removal, 1.0-5.0 kWh/m³ of energy consumption, and 10kg/m³ of electrode consumption, were obtained via the elector coagulation. The Fe-Fe electrode combination had the highest removal efficiencies of the heavy metal ions of Fe-Al, Al-Fe, and Al-Al combinations. Additionally, the effects of pH, time, and direct current on the removal efficiency of metal ions were investigated.

• Periodical: International Journal of Engineering Research in Africa (Volume 63)
• Pages: 67-82
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/p-8352ep
• Online since: March 2023
• Authors: Solomon Workeneh Jima, Emiru Yidnekachew Melesse*, Assefa Taye Endale
• Keywords: Efficiency, Electric Energy, Electrocoagulation, Electrode Consumption, Electro-Flotation, Electroplating Wastewater, Environmental Aspect

References

[1] Kristina Kanishcheva. Wastewater treatment for electroplating production: Bio-induction as a method for controlling wastewater treatment. Kazan State University. - KFU, (2012)4 - 8.

[2] Kolesnikov V.A., Menshutin, N.V., Desyatov, A.V. Equipment technology, and design of wastewater treatment systems. M. DeLi plus, (2016)9 - 197.

[3] Zakaria A. Mohammad, A. Heavy metal ions removal from wastewater using electrocoagulation processes: A compressive review. Sep. Sci. and Tech, 52(2017) 2649 – 2676.

[4] Zakaria A.Q., Mohammed R.Q., Khalid B.M., Malek A. Heavy metal ions removal from metal plating wastewater using electrocoagulation: Kinetic study and process performance. Chem. Eng. J,C3(2014) 750 – 755.

[5] Erick B.B. Electrochemical/electro flotation process for dye wastewater treatment. des. can. Doc. Eng. / Erick Benjamin Butler; Cleveland State University, (2013)85 – 86.

[6] M. Bharath and B. M. Krishna. A Review of the electrocoagulation process for wastewater treatment. International Journal of ChemTech Research, 11(3)( 2018) 289–302.

[7] C.-H. Huang, L. Chen, and C.-L. Yang. Effect of anions on electrochemical coagulation for cadmium removal. Separation and Purification Technology, 65(2)(2009)137–146.

DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2008.10.029

[8] Al Aji, B. Yavuz, Y. Savas - Koparal, A. Electrocoagulation of heavy metals containing model wastewater using monopolar iron electrodes. Separation and Purification Technology, 86 (2012)248–254.

DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2011.11.011

[9] Martins, R. Britto-Costa, P.H. & Ruotolo, L. A. M. Removal of toxic metals from aqueous effluents by electrodeposition in a spouted bed electrochemical reactor. Environmental Technology, 3(10)(2012)1123–1131.

DOI: 10.1080/09593330.2011.610361

[10] Abdelaaziz Aityoub, Abdesselam Abouelfida, Abdelaziz Benyaich,Abderrahmane Romane, Mohamed Elmeray, Rachid Idouhli , Yassine Koumya, and Mohyeddine Khadiri. Optimization of Physicochemical Parameters during the Electrocoagulation Cadmium Elimination. Journal of chemistry,(2020).

DOI: 10.1155/2020/3071420

[11] Cheremisin, A. V., Valiullin, L. R., Myazin, N. S., & Logunov, S. E. Efficient treatment of wastewater from galvanic plants. In Journal of Physics: Conference Series,1942(2021).

DOI: 10.1088/1742-6596/1942/1/012095

[12] Sergi Garcia-Segura, Maria Magnesia S.G. Eiland Jailson Vieira de Melo, Carlos Alberto Martínez-Huitle Electrocoagulation and advanced electrocoagulation processes: A general review about the fundamentals, emerging applications and its association with other technologies. Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry, 801(2017) 267-299.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jelechem.2017.07.047

[13] H. Xu, Z. Yang, G. Zeng, Y. Luo, J. Huang, L. Wang, P. Song, X. Mo. Investigation of pH evolution with Cr(VI) removal in electrocoagulation process: proposing a real-time control strategy. Chem. Eng. J., 239 (2014) 132–140.

DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2013.11.008

[14] Nguyen, D.D., Ngo, H.H.; Guo, W., Nguyen, T.T., Chang, S.W., Jang, A., Yoon, Y.S. Can the electrocoagulation process be an appropriate technology for phosphorus removal from municipal wastewater? doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.04.045. Sci.Total Environment, 563(2016) 549–556.

DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.04.045

[15] Baris, S.; Turkay, O. Domestic greywater treatment by electrocoagulation using hybrid electrode combinations. Journal Water Processing Engineering, 10(2016) 56–66.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jwpe.2016.01.015

[16] E. Brillas, C.A. Martínez-Huitle. Decontamination of wastewaters containing synthetic organic dyes by electrochemical methods. An updated review. Appl. Catal. B Environ, (2015)603–643.

DOI: 10.1016/j.apcatb.2014.11.016

[17] N. Meunier, P. Drogui, C. Montané, R. Hausler, G. Mercier, J.F. Blais. J. Hazard. Mater. Comparison between electrocoagulation and chemical precipitation for metals removal from acidic soil leachate, B137(2006)581–590.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2006.02.050

[18] Moussa, D.T., El-Naas, M.H., Nasser, M., Al-Marri, M. J. Comprehensive, A. Review of electrocoagulation for water treatment: Potentials and challenges. Journal of Environmental Management, 186(2017) 24–41.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2016.10.032

[19] Kolesnikov A.V., Achkasov M.G. G.I. Kandelaki Kovalenko V.S. Kolesnikov V.A. Increasing the efficiency of the process of electro-flotation extraction of metal hydroxides in multicomponent systems from aqueous media. J. Applied Chemistry. M., p. T., 91(2018).

DOI: 10.1134/s1070427218060058

[20] Khelifa A., Moulay S., Naceur A.W. Treatment of metal finishing effluents by the electro flotation technique. Desalination, 181(2005) 27 – 33.

DOI: 10.1016/j.desal.2005.01.011

[21] Akbal F. Camel S. Copper, chromium and nickel removal from metal plating wastewater by electrocoagulation. Desalination, 269(2011) 214 -222.

DOI: 10.1016/j.desal.2010.11.001

[22] Adham N., Monser L., Bellakhal N., Belgaied J.E. Treatment of electroplating wastewater containing Cu2+, Zn2+, and Cr(VI) by electrocoagulation. Journal of Hazardous materials, 112(2004) 207 – 213.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2004.04.018

[23] E. Gastios, J.N. Hahladakis, E. Gidarakos. Optimization of electrocoagulation (EC) process for the purification of real industrial wastewater from toxic metals. J. Environ. Manag, 154(2015)117–127.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2015.02.018

[24] K. Dermentzis, A. Christoforidis, E. Valsamidou. Removal of nickel, copper, zinc, and chromium from synthetic and industrial wastewater by electrocoagulation. Int. J. Environ. Sci., 1(2011) 697–710.

[25] W. Camano. J. Hazard. Mater. Removal of Zn(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), Ag(I), and Cr(VI) present in aqueous solutions by aluminum electrocoagulation. Heidmann, 152(2008) 934–941.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2007.07.068

[26] B. Al Aji, Y. Yavuz, A.S. Koparal. Sep. Purif. Electrocoagulation of heavy metals containing model wastewater using monopolar iron electrodes. Technol, 86(2012) 248–254.

DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2011.11.011

[27] T.M. Zewail, N.S. Yousef. Chromium ions (Cr6+ & Cr3+) removal from synthetic wastewater by electrocoagulation using vertical expanded Fe anode. J. Electroanal. Chem, 735(2014)123–128.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jelechem.2014.09.002

[28] S.S. Hamdan, M.H. El-Naas. Characterization of the removal of chromium (VI) from groundwater by electrocoagulation. J. Ind. Eng. Chem, 20 (2014) 2775–2781.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jiec.2013.11.006

[29] Sohail Ayub, Asif Ali Siddique,Fazlollah Changani. Removal of heavy metals (Cr, cu, and zn) from electroplating wastewater by electrocoagulation and adsorption processes. Desalination and Water Treatment,179(2020)263–271.

DOI: 10.5004/dwt.2020.25010

[30] F. Akbal, S. Camps. Treatment of metal plating wastewater by electrocoagulation. Environ. Prog. Sustain. Energy, 31(2012) 340–350.

DOI: 10.1002/ep.10546

[31] Kim, T., Kim, T. K., & Zoh, K. D. Removal mechanism of heavy metal (Cu, Ni, Zn, and Cr) in the presence of cyanide during electrocoagulation using Fe and Al electrodes. Journal of Water Process Engineering, 33(2020).

DOI: 10.1016/j.jwpe.2019.101109

[32] Mansour S.E., Hasieb I.H. Removal of nickel from drinking water by electrocoagulation technique using alternating current. Current research in chem, 4(2012) 41 – 50.

DOI: 10.3923/crc.2012.41.50

[33] Gretchen M.S., Ilyin V.I. Intensification of the electro-flotation process of extracting the dispersed phase of metals (Cu, Ni, Co, Fe) from wastewater from non-ferrous metallurgy enterprises., Udk 628.542 (088.8)( 2017) 64 – 65.

[34] Ping G., Xueming C., Feng S. Guohua C. Removal of chromium (VI) from wastewater by combined electrocoagulation–electroflotation without a filter., Sep. and Pur. Tech, 43(2005) 117 – 123.

DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2004.10.008

[35] Al-Shannag M., Al-Qodah Z., Bani-Melhem K., Qtaishat M.R., Alkashawi M. Heavy metal ions removal from metal plating wastewater using electrocoagulation. Che. Eng. J., 260(2015) 749 – 756.

DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2014.09.035

[36] Koby M., Demirbas E., Dedeli A., Sensoy M.T. Treatment of rinse water from Zinc phosphate coating by batch and containing electrocoagulation processes.J.of hazardous materials, 173(2010)326 – 334.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2009.08.092

[37] Rubanov Y. K., Tokach Yu.E., Ognev M.I. Processing of sludge and wastewater from galvanic industries with the extraction of heavy metal ions. Modern science-intensive tech, 3(2009) 82 - 83.

[38] Y.P. Perelygin, O. V. Zorkina, I. V. Rashevekaya, S.N. Nikolaev. Reagent wastewater treatment and utilization of waste solutions and sludge from galvanic industries. PGU, (2013)7 -73.

[39] Z. hao, H.Z hao, B.Y., and Y. & H. English. Effects of Ca2+ and Mg2+ on Defluoridation in the electrocoagulation process. T. Environ. Sci. Technol, 44(2010) 9112–9116.

[40] Yang, H. Xu, G. Zeng, Y. Luo, X. Yang, J. Huang, L. Wang, P. Song. The behavior of dissolution/passivation and the transformation of passive films during electrocoagulation: influences Environmental and Industrial Applications. Marcel Dekker, New York, (2003)235–304.

DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2014.11.183

[41] Bouguerra W., Barhoumi A., Ibrahim N., Brahmi K., Aloui L., Hamrouni B. Optimization of the electrocoagulation process for the removal of lead from water using aluminum as electrode material. Desalination and water treatment, 56(2015) 2672 – 2681.

DOI: 10.1080/19443994.2015.1015308

[42] M. Bharath and B. M. Krishna. International Journal of ChemTech Research, 11(3) (2018) 289–302.

[43] Al Aji, B. Yavuz, Y. Savas - Koparal, A. Electrocoagulation of heavy metals containing model wastewater using monopolar iron electrodes. Separation and Purification Technology, 86(2012) 248–254.

DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2011.11.011