Modeling the electrocoagulation process for the treatment of contaminated water

Abstract

The study of the electro-dissolution of aluminum electrodes during the electrocoagulation process is important for understanding the mechanisms involved in the process. This study involved the experimental determination of both total and dissolved aluminum concentrations during the electrocoagulation processes operation. The total aluminum concentration was fitted with the Faraday’s equation and was obtained 1.6 of current efficiency, indicating a super-faradaic behavior of the electrochemical process at the given operating conditions. Additionally, a mathematical model was developed considering the electrochemical dissolution of the Al anode, water electrolysis, hydrolysis of dissolved Al and water dissociation reaction involved in the electrocoagulation process. The simulated results showed a good prediction of the evolution of both concentration of dissolved aluminum and pH during the electrocoagulation process operation. The model was also employed to simulate the removal of arsenic from water by electrocoagulation showing a good prediction of the experimental results at the operating conditions considered.