Weibull Technique for Evaluation of Swelling: Composite Graphite Resin Electrode for Electrochemical Treatment of Gold Mining Wastewaters

Abstract

This paper evaluated the swelling of graphite resin electrodes developed for utilization in the electrochemical treatment of gold mining wastewater. Graphite-resin electrodes were developed from used dry cells and resin using non-heat treatment processes (segregation). The Microstructure of the electrode was determined using a scanning electron microscope (Carl Zeiss Smart Evo 10) to ascertain the composition of the electrode. The swelling property of the electrodes was measured using the standard method through a combination of gold mining wastewater and chloride salt solutions. Effects of operational factors (particle size, percentage binder and compressive “compacting” pressure) on the swelling of the electrodes were monitored and evaluated statistically (using analysis of variance). Weibull probability distribution (2 and 3 parameters) was applied to the swelling through Microsoft Excel Solver and Moment Likelihood Method to ascertain the usefulness of the electrode in environmental pollution control through computation of reliability. The study revealed that the swelling was in the range of 1.48 % to 2.24 %, particle size (F5,20 =196.48, p = 2.76 x 10-16), percentage binder (F4,12 =181.58, p = 1.27 x 10-10), and compressive pressure (F3,12 = 106.69, p = 6.43 x 10-9) were significant factors that influence swelling of graphite-resin electrode at 95 % confidence level. the values of α and β for 2-parameters Weibull distribution are 63.162 and 15.098, and 1.265 and 10.089 for MSE and MLM methods, respectively. The Table shows that the values of α, β and θ for 3-parameters Weibull distribution are 3.679, 8.097 and 0.168, and 4.350, 7.165 and 0.198 for MSE and MLM methods, respectively. It was concluded that particle size and compacting pressure are significant factors that had an effect on the swelling of graphite resin electrodes for treatment water and wastewater.