Removal of Some Heavy Metals by Electrocoagulation

Heavy metal removal by electrocoagulation using iron electrodes material was investigated in this paper. Several working parameters, such as pH, current density and heavy metal ions concentration were studied in an attempt to achieve a higher removal capacity. A simple and efficient treatment process for removal of heavy metals is essentially necessary. The performance of continuous flow electrocoagulation system, with reactor consists of a ladder series of twelve electrolytic cells, each cell containing stainless steel cathode and iron anode. The treatment of synthetic solutions containing Zn (2+),Cu (2+), Ni (2+), Cr (3+), Cd (2+) and Co (2+),has been investigated. Results showed that iron is very effective as sacrificial electrode material for heavy metals removal efficiency and cost points. Also it was concluded that the chromium has lower efficient removal as compared to zinc, copper and nickel. At the same time cadmium and cobalt have minimum removal efficiency.