A hybrid system for lead removal of simulated battery industry Wastewater using electrocoagulation/electroflotation

ABSTRACT

This study is on removing toxic lead ions pollutants from battery industry wastewater by utilizing a hybrid electrocoagulation/electroflotation (EC/EF) system with a continuous bipolar reactor. Simulated wastewater with a Pb initial concentration of 100 mg/L is used in all key experiments. The objective of this study is to investigate the lead removal efficiency with various independent parameters, such as solution pH (3, 7, 9), applied current density (5, 7.5, 10) mA/cm², and electrolyte flow rate (0.0166, 0.025, 0.05) l/min at a cell voltage of 6 V and operating period (10–60) minutes. At a current density of 5 mA/cm² and a flow rate of 0.166 liters per minute, It was able to remove 99.5% of Lead from wastewater at pH 9.0 for 60 minutes. According to the results of this research, the reactor can be employed to effectively remove lead ions from wastewater of the battery industry.

KEYWORDS:

• Electrocoagulation
• electroflotation
• aluminum electrodes
• lead removal
• flocs

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Nomenclature

EC electrocoagulation

EF electroflotation

F Faraday’s constant (96486 C/mol)

I applied current (A)

M molar Mass (g/mol)

n no. of cells

z metal valance used in EC

pH initial acidity

Q volumetric flow rate (l/min)

Qe charge loading (C/L)

μ the consumption of an electrode

U electric potential in each cell (V)

V EC/EF wastewater volume (L)