Arsenate removal from groundwater by air-injected EC with al ball anodes: effects of operational parameters

Abstract

Treatment of arsenate from groundwater by electrocoagulation (EC) reactor with air supply unit using Al ball electrodes were studied in this paper. Influence of some operating variables, for instance, applied current (0.075-0.3 A), initial pH (5.5-8.5), air flow rate (0-6 L/min), size of Al ball electrodes (5-10 mm), and height of electrode in EC reactor (2-8 cm) on the As(V) removal efficiency were evaluated. The As (V) removal efficiency increased with the increment of applied current, air flow, electrode altitude in EC reactor, and EC time while its removal efficiency decreased with the increment of size of Al ball electrodes. The maximum As(V) removal percentage, minimum operating cost and energy consumption were found as 98.68 %, 0.609 $/m(3) and 3.7694 kWh/m(3) at pH of 7.5, current density of 0.30 A, size of Al balls of 7.5 mm, height of electrode in EC of 5 c(dagger)m, and air flow rate of 6 L/min, respectively.