Individual Dye Removal Efficiencies in a Ternary Dye Mixture by Electrocoagulation

Abstract

The electrocoagulation (EC) of synthetic ternary dye mixture was investigated using sacrificial iron electrodes. Erionyl Red (ER), Isolan Bordeaux (IB), and Remazol Red (RR) textile dyes were used for preparing the ternary solution. Different operational parameters, including initial dye concentrations, salt amount, current density, EC time, and pH, were analyzed to optimize removal efficiency and energy consumption conditions. After EC treatment, the individual remaining dye concentrations were calculated by applying classical least squares (CLS). The fastest removed dye was RR and the obtained efficiency was 100% in 20 minutes at pH 6. The removal rates of IB and ER were 94% and 90% in 20 minutes and raised 98% and 95% in 60 minutes. These removal rates were obtained with 100 mg/L of each dye concentration at 293.15 K. The energy consumption was also investigated. The calculated value increased from 1.67 kWh/m3 to 5.00 kWh/m3 by raising the time from 20 minutes to 60 minutes when the current density was 2.33 mA/cm2 and the electrolyte (NaCl) amount was 3.0 g/L.