Removal of arsenic from aqueous solution using combined ultrasonic and electrocoagulation process

Abstract

The undesirable health impacts on humans have been observed across the world due to the consumption of arsenic polluted groundwater, particularly in Southeast Asia. In India, West Bengal is the most affected state from groundwater arsenic contamination. Increased arsenic exposure can cause diseases like arsenicosis, skin lesions, cancer, and other health hazards. In this context, arsenic removal is very essential. There are several separation techniques available for arsenic removal like chemical precipitation, ion exchange, adsorption, and reverse osmosis but they have some major disadvantages. Therefore, in the present study, to overcome the demerits and enhance the removal efficiency instead of single process combined ultrasonication and electrocoagulation has been carried out for the arsenic removal from simulated groundwater. The influence of initial concentration variation was examined at various range of initial arsenic concentration (0.1 mg/L, 0.3 mg/L, 0.4 mg/L, and 1 mg/L) under the constant operating conditions of pH (7–8), applied voltage (3–4 V), current density (20.83 A/m2), inter-electrode distance (0.02 m), submerge depth (0.04 m), effective electrode area (0.0024 m2), and ultrasonic frequency (40000 Hz). The experiments lead to the 90% of the removal in duration of 60 min of electrocoagulation. Additionally, the higher current density during electrocoagulation process has also played a vital role by offering 98.108% of arsenic removal. Consequently, for the removal of hazardous pollutant like arsenic, combined ultrasonication and electrocoagulation process is proficient and effective treatment option.