Decolorization of C.I. Acid Yellow 23 solution by electrocoagulation process: Investigation of operational parameters and evaluation of specific electrical energy consumption (SEEC)

This study investigates the evaluation of specific electrical energy consumption (SEEC) and the influence of operating parameters on the color removal efficiency of a dye solution containing C.I. Acid Yellow 23 by electrocoagulation process. Firstly, the operational parameters including current density, initial dye concentration, initial pH and time of electrolysis were optimized. Then the effects of the conductivity, the interelectrode distance and the area of cross-section of the electrodes on specific electrical energy consumption (SEEC) were studied under the optimum conditions. Our results indicated that for a solution of 50 mg/l C.I. Acid Yellow 23, almost 98% color and 69% chemical oxygen demand (COD) were removed, when the pH was about 6, the time of electrolysis was 5 min and the current density was approximately 112.5 A/m2. In addition, the results of our study revealed that when the conductivity and area of cross-section of the electrodes increased and interelectrode distance decreased, the cell voltage and specific electrical energy consumption would be decreased.