Investigation of organic and inorganic matters removal from tannery wastewater using iron plate electrode by electrocoagulation process

ABSTRACT

In this study, COD, turbidity, total nitrogen, phosphate, sulphate, oil-grease and chromium removals from wastewaters taken from a local tannery using the electrocoagulation process were examined and the most suitable parameters for the electrocoagulation system were tried to be determined. Soluble iron plate electrodes were used as electrodes in the experiments. As a result of the studies carried out, the most suitable initial pH in uncontrolled pH was determined as pH = 4 and for controlled pH as pH = 5. In studies, the most suitable current density for iron electrodes was determined as 1.2 mA cm⁻². Even if the increase in current density increased the amount of dissolved Fe, it negatively affected the removal efficiency. In addition, the turbidity of the wastewater was removed in 30 minutes, phosphate in 20 minutes and chromium in 15 minutes by 100%. During 60 minutes of operation, while 62.91% of TN, 87.8% of oil-grease were removed, sulphate was removed at the rate of 54.78%. In the studies, 1st and 2nd order kinetic equations for COD removal were examined and it was determined that removal kinetic is more suitable for 2nd order kinetics.

KEYWORDS:

• Electrochemical treatment
• iron electrode
• electrocoagulation
• tannery industry
• wastewater treatment

Disclosure statement

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

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Funding

This research did not receive any specific funding