Using Electrocoagulation as Green and Efficient technology for Removing Toxic heavy metals from Industrial Wastewater

Abdel-rahman, Amira Sayed; Hegazey, Badr El-Deen Ezzat; Elshafai, Maha Mostafa; Hassanin, Ahmed Mohamed

doi:10.21608/erjsh.2025.346762.1387

Using Electrocoagulation as Green and Efficient technology for Removing Toxic heavy metals from Industrial Wastewater

Document Type : Research articles

Authors

¹ Sanitary and Environmental Engineering Department, Housing and Building Research Center (HBRC), Giza, Egypt

² Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering at Shoubra, Benha University, Cairo, Egypt.

10.21608/erjsh.2025.346762.1387

Abstract

Copper is a very toxic heavy metal to the environment when it is dissolved in the water in a high concentration, many studies have focused on eliminating copper from industrial wastewater through different methods. Electrocoagulation has been used as a suitable industrial wastewater treatment technology to use in removing copper. For this research, aluminum electrode was used as anode and cathode for removing Copper (Cu) from synthetic wastewater. Batch tests were conducted to know the performance of copper removal through EC system. Different factors were studied such as pH (4, 6, 8 and 10), initial concentration (10, 20, 30 and 40) ppm, contact time (1, 2.5, 5, 10, 15 and 30) min, stirring speed (50, 100, 150 and 200) rpm, inter-electrode spacing (1, 2, 3 and 4) cm and current (0.1, 0.2, 0.3 and 0.4) A, at room temperature. The results showed an increase in removal efficiency of copper ions within the first 30 minutes, while equilibrium was occurred within 15 minutes, and the optimum pH was found to be 6, The removal efficiency for copper ions reached to 98% by using aluminum electrodes.

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