REMOVAL OF TURBIDITY USING ELECTROCOAGULATION

Nilesh A. Fagnekar, Sachin Mane

Abstract: Electrocoagulation (EC) is a technique involving the electrolytic addition of coagulating metal ions directly from electrodes, this electrode also known as sacrificial electrode. These ions work as a coagulating agent in the water, similar manner to the addition of chemicals such as alum and ferric chloride. Electrode allows the easier removal of the turbidity. In this study experimental investigation is carried out to removal of turbidity using electrocoagulation method with the help of aluminum electrodes in a batch reactor. Several working parameters, such as pH, current density, and operating time were varied to achieve a higher removal efficiency of turbidity. Two type of water sample were used1) synthetic turbid water and 2) back wash water synthetic water was made from crushed sand with initial turbidity of 200 NTU whereas back wash water was collected from Nigadi water treatment plant . Current intensity was varied from 2 to 6 A. and detention time between 5 to 20 minutes with pH range from pH 3 to pH 11. The removal efficiencies for synthetic turbidity were found about 91% at 6A for 20 minutes at neutral pH, whereas removal efficiencies for backwash water were found about 89% at 6A for 20 minutes at neutral pH. The results of the study indicated that the turbidity can be removed effectively by EC process using Al electrodes.

Keywords: Electrocoagulation, sacrificial electrode, Turbidity, Water Treatment

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15623/ijret.2015.0406094