Evaluation of operational parameters for the removal of turbidity and total coliform from wastewater using fabricated electrocoagulation treatment unit

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to design and fabricate a prototype electrocoagulation wastewater treatment unit. The treatment system consist of wastewater storage tank, reactor tank with electrodes, treated water collection tank, filtration unit, filtered water storage tank, DC power supply. The study focuses on the effect of electrocoagulation treatment unit on treatment of wastewater containing physical and biological impurities using aluminium and iron electrodes. The aluminium electrodes used as anode and iron electrodes used as cathode. This study was based on treatment of synthetic wastewater containing turbidity and total coliform colonies. The unit was optimized at various operating conditions including pH, current density, and contact time. Impurities removal efficiency of designed Electrocoagulation (EC) unit was investigated at various conditions. Batch flow system was used for operation of reactor. From the experiments, the best turbidity removal efficiency was 94% at 6.5 pH, 18 mins and 3 A and for total coliform the removal efficiency was 98.95 % at 6.5 pH, 18mins and 3A. Results showed that aluminium and iron electrode are very effective electrode material for removal of physical and biological impurities cost effectively.