Simultaneous removal of fluoride and arsenic from water by hybrid Al-Fe electrocoagulation: process optimization through surface response method

ABSTRACT

The electrocoagulation process using hybrid aluminum-iron electrode was used for the removal of arsenic and fluoride from water. The operation parameters; current density, initial pH, treatment time, initial concentration of arsenic and fluoride were optimized using the Box Behnken Design. The R² values for arsenic and fluoride removal were 0.83 and 0.96, respectively ensure a satisfactory of a developed quadratic model. At the optimized operation parameter of 9.90 mAcm⁻², pH 7.5; the Al-Fe EC reduced 16 mg/L and arsenic 200 µg/L to 1.12 mg/L and 9.60 µg/L, respectively in 50 minutes with an operating cost estimated to 0.99 $/m³.

KEYWORDS:

• Electrocoagulation
• groundwater
• arsenic
• fluoride
• reduction
• response surface methodology

Acknowledgments

The authors are kindly acknowledging the Department of Chemistry (Addis Ababa University) for providing laboratory space and laboratory facilities in achieving this work.

Compliance with ethical standards

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Africa Centre of Excellence for Water Management (ACEWM) funded by the World Bank ACEII project for capacity building with grant number GSR 9808/10].