Optimization of the electrocoagulation process for sulfate removal using response surface methodology

Sulfate concentrations affected on the natural sulfur cycle in the anaerobic treatment, therefore pretreatment of wastewater containing sulfate must be considered. In this work electrocoagulation techniques have considered as an effective and environmentally friendly process for desulfurization from wastewater. Three factors including initial pH, initial sulfate concentration and current density were selected as the effective factors and were optimized using response surface methodology. An initial pH of 8, initial sulfate concentration of80mg/l and current density of12mA/cm(2)were determined to be optimum values by the statistical models. The maximum sulfate removal and minimum sludge generation under optimal conditions were 68.5% and 0.075g, respectively. The kinetics of sulfate removal study investigated the pseudo-first models were better described experimental data and was selected as overall kinetic removal of sulfate.