The Combined Implementation of Electrocoagulation and Adsorption Processes for the Treatment of Wastewaters

Abstract

Effluent treatment and reuse are essential in order to address the global problem of water scarcity. Additionally, improving the quality of treated wastewater is necessary to reduce its adverse effects on natural water resources and, consequently, on human health. Electrocoagulation and adsorption have been successfully applied separately to treat different wastewaters. Each method has unique benefits, drawbacks, and parameters that affect the effectiveness of treatment. A review of both processes, including their theoretical principles, the effect of operating conditions, and practical applications, is presented to provide an overview of their capabilities. The combination of electrocoagulation and adsorption in a combined process can be used to amplify the advantages of each process while mitigating their limitations. In the present work, the combined process is analyzed in terms of its principles, applications, and integration in a circular economy model.