Removal of organic pollutants in industrial wastewater with an integrated system of copper electrocoagulation and electrogenerated H2O2

• A Cu electrocoagulation is effective in pollutants removal of industrial wastewater.
• The electrocoagulation is enhanced when H2O2 electrochemically produced is added.
• Optimal conditions are initial pH = 2.8, j = 14.2 mA cm−2 and 40 mL of H2O2.
• The system configuration is quite simple and easy to operate.
• The coupled system is effective for disinfection and final [Cu] is less than 4 ppm.

The effectiveness of organics removal of an integrated electrochemical process, namely, electrocoagulation with copper ions followed by the use of electrogenerated hydrogen peroxide was evaluated with an industrial wastewater. The copper (II) ions addition into the wastewater using electro-dissolution of copper electrodes, reduces the chemical oxygen demand (COD) by 56% after 30 min of treatment, under optimal conditions of pH 2,8 and 14.2 mA cm−2 of current density. The integrated electrochemical process reduces the COD by 78%, BOD5 by 81%, color by 97% and fecal coliforms by 99.9%. The wastewater quality was monitored using UV–Vis spectrometry and Z-potential in order to characterize raw and treated wastewater.

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