Variation of sediment thickness in electrocoagulation as a function of pH, current and temperature

Abstract

In this electrocoagulation study, the effect of three different parameters on the final sediment thickness was tested. For the analysis of the electrocoagulation parameters, the response surface methodology via Box-Behnken design was used. This statistical analysis suggested a comprehensive quadratic mathematical model with R2: 87,6% and adjusted-R2:80,6%. Considering the high-capability of the model, the prediction and interpretation of the electrocoagulation within the studied range of the parameters were reliably carried out. According to the statistical model, the lowest sediment thickness of 0,48cm can be obtained by adjusting pH around 5,0, increasing the solution temperature to 84,19 °C and keeping the electrical current at 0,2A. The lowest value of the electrical current was exclusively suggested by the estimated model since the higher electrical current values resulted in larger agglomerates and higher sediment thickness after the electrocoagulation of the colloidal clay suspension.