Integrated Electro-Coagulation Treatment of Dye Wastewater using Biochar with Aluminium Electrode

IJEP 42(8): 1001-1007 : Vol. 42 Issue. 8 (August 2022)

M. Madhumitha1, M.C. Ravathi2* and R. Chithra2

1. Government College of Technology, Department of Environmental Engineering, Coimbatore – 641 013, Tamil Nadu, India
2. Government College of Technology, Department of Civil Engineering, Coimbatore – 641 013, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

In this study, dye effluent was treated by electro-coagulation method using aluminium (Al) electrodes alongwith biochar (adsorbent) by varying conditions, like pH, current density, operating time and adsorbent dosage. Biochar obtained from wood waste was powered and sieved through 600 mm sieve. Characterization of biochar was done by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive analysis of x-rays, surface area analysis and proximate analysis. Characterization of dye effluent for parameters, like pH, total solids, total suspended solids, dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, electrical conductivity and total organic carbon. Optical density of dye effluent was found using ELISA microplate reader. It was observed that with an increase in current density and contact time, removal efficiency also increases. Only for Al-Al electrode, higher removal efficiency of 76.71% was obtained at optimum pH 10, current density of 60 A/m2 and at a contact time of 60 min. It was also observed that as the adsorbent dosage increases, removal efficiency also increases. As dosage of 1 g was added alongwith the optimum conditions for Al-Al electrode, removal efficiency increases to 88.27%. Therefore, by adding biochar as adsorbent, efficiency is increased by 15% approximately.

Keywords

Electro-coagulation, Optical density, Biochar, Current density, Characterization, Adsorbent dosage

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