Central composite experimental design for Indigo Carmine dye removal from solutions by applying electro-coagulation and electro-oxidation processes

Abstract

Textile and food industries produce toxic or harmfull dye-containing wastewaters that should be treated for safely discharge. The electro-coagulation (EC) and the electro-oxidation (EO) methods for removal of dyes from wastewaters are being investigated nowadays by researchers. In this study, the Indigo Carmine, a textile and food coloring agent, removal was investigated by applying the electro-coagulation and the electro-oxidation methods. For this purpose, aluminum electrodes for EC and graphite plates for EO were used. The central composite experimental design was applied as the optimization method for the EC and the EO processes. The optimization parameters were selected as time (10-30 minutes), current density (0.4-2 Ampere/500 mL) and concentration (50-250 mg/L), natural pH (5.78-6.90) and room temperature (20-25 °C). The EO process was determined to be effective than the EC process. Statistically important parameters were concentration and time-current density interaction for the EC, but all the parameters were statistically unimportant for the EO. Dye removal percentages by the EC were calculated between 82.75% and 98.38%, and dye removal percentages by the EO were calculated between 46.88% and 100% for the determined experimental matrix. Electrical consumptions were almost equal for the EO and the EO prosesses. A column ion exchange process (Selion SBA 2000 resin) was applied to the dye residue after the EO treatment. From the oxidation reduction measurements, the treated solutions were determined as dischargeable.