Removal of strontium by electrocoagulation using stainless steel and aluminum electrodes

In the present work, removal of strontium (up to 100 mg/L) from synthetic wastewater by electrocoagulation has been studied. Stainless steel and aluminum electrodes have been used and removal efficiencies have been compared with respect to electrocoagulation time, current density, amount of electrolyte added, solution pH, distance between electrodes, temperature and initial concentration of strontium. Preliminary operating cost estimation has been found out for both electrode materials. The strontium removal data has been used to find adsorption kinetics using pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order adsorption kinetics models. Results show that the optimum operating variables values are 50 min of process time, 8 mA/cm2 current density and solution pH 5 for which around 93% and 77% removal efficiency was achieved with using stainless steel and aluminum electrodes, respectively. Pseudo-second-order kinetic model fitted the data better than the pseudo-first-order model.

► Removal of strontium from by electrocoagulation is reported for the first time.
► Stainless steel (SS) and Al electrodes are used and removal efficiencies compared.
► Preliminary operating cost estimation is reported for both electrode materials.
► The strontium removal data have been used to find adsorption kinetics.
► 93 and 77% Sr(II) removal was achieved by SS and Al electrodes, respectively.