Treatment of contaminated river water by batch electrocoagulation system using aluminium and iron electrodes: Performance of process and statistical analysis

This study examines the reduction efficiency of chemical pollution of freshwater by electrocoagulation (EC) process using aluminium (Al) and iron (Fe) electrodes. Several parameters affecting the EC efficiency were investigated in batch manner. Results indicate that both Al and Fe electrodes can eliminate satisfactorily the chemical pollutants of water. The Fe/Fe pair electrode showed an excellent efficiency in reducing turbidity (approximate to 99%) within 30 min of time and at 3.0 A intensity. The COD value increased from 62 to 65% with current intensity from 0.3 to 1.0, and from 70 to 98% following the increase in intensity from 2.0 to 3.0A by using the Al electrode. The removal of COD reached 86% with Fe electrode (for 10 min) while it was 99% with Al electrode (after 45 min) using Al electrode (at 2.5 intensity). It was also found that the P value is greater than 0.05 for COD and less than 0.05 for TSS with both electrodes (Al, Fe). The finding also confirmed that the significant difference exists in the case of TSS reduction and it does not exist in the case of COD. Overall, the study underscores the performance of electrocoagulation using both Al and Fe electrodes for removing chemical pollutants in freshwater, highlighting its potential as a sustainable and adaptable solution for their application in water treatment units.