Influence of the anodic material on electrocoagulation performance

The removal of organic pollutants from a highly complex industrial wastewater by aluminum, iron and aluminum + iron electrocoagulation systems was evaluated. Under optimal conditions of pH 8 and 45.45 A m−2 current density, the electrochemical method yields a very effective reduction of all organic pollutants. The optimal treatment (aluminum + iron) reduced chemical oxygen demand (COD) by 69%, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) by 71%, color by 83%, turbidity by 80% and total coliforms by 99%. The raw and treated wastewater was characterized by UV–vis spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry to confirm the increase in water quality. Finally, the sludge produced during electrocoagulation was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDS).