Electrocoagulation for the efficient removal of Eriochrome Black T from wastewater using copper electrodes

The present study is based on the application of the electrocoagulation process in removal of Eriochrome Black T dye pollutant. It is found that many factors like voltage, temperature, number of pairs of electrodes, contact time, inter electrode distance are affecting the electrocoagulation. As voltage is increased from 5 V DC to 30 V DC the removal efficiency increases linearly and attained 98.3% at 13 V DC and beyond that the removal of dye is constant. The temperature plays important role in electrocoagulation and maximum removal was observed at 28 degrees C, at high temperature electrocoagulation decreases. It is also found that inter-electrode distance of 0.5 cm is more favourable for removal. As the number of pair of electrodes increases the removal capacity also increases. If there is a rise in concentration of the solution from 10 ppm to 1000 ppm the efficiency decreases from 99.2% to 63.6%. The chemical oxygen demand of the treated solution drops from 1600 to 320 ppm under 13 V DC, 180 s of contact time for 25 ppm of dye solution. The energy consumption, anode dissolution also plays a crucial role in removal of dye.