Optimization of Removal of Cr(VI) from Wastewater by Electrocoagulation Process Using Response Surface Methodology
Publication: Journal of Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste
Volume 27, Issue 1
Abstract
This study investigated the removal of hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] from a simulated industrial effluent that used electrocoagulation (EC) technology. Experimental runs were conducted in a laboratory-scale batch EC cell with vertically rotating cylindrical aluminum (Al) electrodes, which imparted the required velocity to avoid a concentration gradient within the treatment unit. The independent variables, current, influent pH, rotational speed (rpm), and initial Cr(VI) concentration [Cr(VI)i], that affected Cr removal efficiency were optimized through a central composite design (CCD) that was initiated by the response surface methodology (RSM). The ANOVA factor of the CCD indicated that the investigated independent variables had a significant impact on the responses, such as Cr(VI) removal and specific electrical energy consumption (SEEC). Four factors, which each had three levels were considered: (1) Cr(VI)i (15–35 mg/L); (2) applied current (1–3 A); (3) initial pH (4–6); and (4) rotational speed of the electrode (40–100 rpm). High R2 values were observed for Cr(VI) (98.12%) and SEEC (98.09%), which validated the regression equations that were generated in this study. Optimizing the performance factors for the treatment process was targeted to achieve maximum Cr(VI) removal and minimum SEEC. Under the optimum condition, the Cr(VI) removal efficiency, SEEC, and operating cost were 89.808%, 0.14 kW · h/g Cr(VI) removed, and USD 0.728/m3, respectively. The optimum values that were obtained for the selected input variables were Cr(VI)i of 4.99 mg/L, current of 2.189 A, initial pH 4.5, and a rotational speed of 72.46 rpm.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Acknowledgments
The authors would like to acknowledge the TEQIP grant for the design and fabrication of the experimental setup. for all the support in conducting the study and the Department of Civil Engineering, MNNIT Allahabad.
References
Aitbara, A., M. Cherifi, S. Hazourli, and J. P. Lecler. 2016. “Continuous treatment of industrial dairy effluent by electrocoagulation using aluminum electrodes.” Desalin. Water Treat. 57 (8): 3395–3404. https://doi.org/10.1080/19443994.2014.989411.
Akbal, F., and S. Camcı. 2011. “Copper, chromium and nickel removal from metal plating wastewater by electrocoagulation.” Desalination 269 (1–3): 214–222. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2010.11.001.
Aoudj, S., A. Khelifa, and N. Drouiche. 2017. “Removal of fluoride, SDS, ammonia and turbidity from semiconductor wastewater by combined electrocoagulation–electroflotation.” Chemosphere 180: 379–387. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.04.045.
APHA (American Public Health Association). 2005. Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. 21st ed. Washington, DC: APHA.
Baral, A., and R. D. Engelken. 2002. “Chromium-based regulations and greening in metal finishing industries in the USA.” Environ. Sci. Policy 5 (2): 121–133. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1462-9011(02)00028-X.
Bezerra, M. A., R. E. Santelli, E. P. Oliveira, L. S. Villar, and L. A. Escaleira. 2008. “Response surface methodology (RSM) as a tool for optimization in analytical chemistry.” Talanta 76 (5): 965–977. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2008.05.019.
Choudhary, A., and S. Mathur. 2017. “Performance evaluation of 3D rotating anode in electro coagulation reactor: Part I: Effect of impeller.” J. Water Process Eng. 19: 322–330. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2017.08.020.
Costa, M. 2003. “Potential hazards of hexavalent chromate in our drinking water.” Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 188 (1): 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0041-008X(03)00011-5.
Das, D., and B. K. Nandi. 2020. “Removal of hexavalent chromium from wastewater by electrocoagulation (EC): Parametric evaluation, kinetic study and operating cost.” Trans. Indian Inst. Met. 73 (8): 2053–2060. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12666-020-01962-4.
Deng, X., Y. Chen, J. Wen, Y. Xu, J. Zhu, and Z. Bian. 2020. “Polyaniline-TiO2 composite photocatalysts for light-driven hexavalent chromium ions reduction.” Sci. Bull. 65 (2): 105–112 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scib.2019.10.020.
Dermentzis, K., A. Christoforidis, and E. Valsamidou. 2011. “Removal of nickel, copper, zinc and chromium from synthetic and industrial wastewater by electrocoagulation.” Int. J. Environ. Sci. 1 (5): 697–710.
Garg, K. K., and B. Prasad. 2015. “Removal of para-toulic acid (p-TA) from purified terephthalic acid (PTA) waste water by electrocoagulation process.” J. Environ. Chem. Eng. 3 (3): 1731–1739. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2015.05.029.
Golder, A. K., A. K. Chanda, A. N. Samanta, and S. Ray. 2007a. “Removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution: Electrocoagulation vs chemical coagulation.” Sep. Sci. Technol. 42 (10): 2177–2193. https://doi.org/10.1080/01496390701446464.
Heidmann, I., and W. Calmano. 2008b. “Removal of Zn(II), Cu(II), Ni(II), Ag(I) and Cr(VI) present in aqueous solutions by aluminium electrocoagulation.” J. Hazard. Mater. 152 (3): 934–941. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2007.07.068.
Holt, P. K., G. W. Barton, M. Wark, and C. A. Mitchell. 2002. “A quantitative comparison between chemical dosing and electrocoagulation.” Colloids Surf., A 211 (2–3): 233–248. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0927-7757(02)00285-6.
Kaprara, E. A., A. I. Zouboulis, K. T. Simeonidis, and M. G. Mitrakas. 2015. “Potential application of inorganic sulfur reductants for Cr(VI) removal at sub-ppb level.” Desalin. Water Treat. 54 (8): 2067–2074. https://doi.org/10.1080/19443994.2014.934104.
Keshmirizadeh, E., S. Yousefi, and M. K. Rofouei. 2011. “An investigation on the new operational parameter effective in Cr(VI) removal efficiency: A study on electrocoagulation by alternating pulse current.” J. Hazard. Mater. 190 (1–3): 119–124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2011.03.010.
Khayet, M., A. Y. Zahrim, and N. Hilal. 2011. “Modelling and optimization of coagulation of highly concentrated industrial grade leather dye by response surface methodology.” Chem. Eng. J. 167 (1): 77–83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2010.11.108.
Korak, J. A., R. Huggins, and M. Arias-paic. 2017. “Regeneration of pilot-scale ion exchange columns for hexavalent chromium removal.” Water Res. 118: 141–151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2017.03.018.
Kushwaha, J. P., V. C. Shrivastava, and I. D. Mall. 2010. “Organics removal from dairy wastewater by electrochemical treatment and residue disposal.” Sep. Purif. Technol. 76 (2): 198–205. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2010.10.008.
Le Man, H., S. K. Behera, and H. S. Park. 2010. “Optimization of operational parameters for ethanol production from Korean food waste leachate.” Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 7 (1): 157–164. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03326127.
Mohammed-Ridha, M. J., A. S. Ahmed, and N. N. Raoof. 2017. “Investigation of the thermodynamic, kinetic and equilibrium parameters of batch biosorption of Pb(II), Cu(II) and Ni(II) from aqueous phase using low cost biosorbent.” Al-Nahrain J. Eng. Sci. (NJES) 201: 298–310.
Mollah, M. Y. A., P. Morkovsky, J. A. G. Gomes, M. Kesmez, J. Parga, and D. L. Cocke. 2004. “Fundamentals, present and future perspectives of electrocoagulation.” J. Hazard. Mater. 114 (1–3): 199–210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2004.08.009.
Mouedhen, G., M. Feki, M. de Petris-Wery, and H. F. Ayedi. 2009. “Electrochemical removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous media using iron and aluminum as electrode materials: Towards a better understanding of the involved phenomena.” J. Hazard. Mater. 168 (2–3): 983–991. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2009.02.117.
Muthumareeswaran, M. R., M. Alhoshan, and G. P. Agarwal. 2017. “Ultrafiltration membrane for effective removal of chromium ions from potable water.” Sci. Rep. 7: 41423. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep41423.
Owolabi, R. U., M. A. Usman, and A. J. Kehinde. 2018. “Modelling and optimization of process variables for the solution polymerization of styrene using response surface methodology.” J. King Saud Univ. Eng. Sci. 30 (1): 22–30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jksues.2015.12.005.
Rezaei, H. 2016. “Biosorption of chromium by using Spirulina sp.” Arab. J. Chem. 9 (6): 846–853. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arabjc.2013.11.008.
Sinha, R., and S. Mathur. 2016. “Use of activated silica sol as a coagulant aid to remove aluminium from water defluoridated by electrocoagulation.” Desalin. Water Treat. 57 (36): 16790–16799. https://doi.org/10.1080/19443994.2015.1084536.
Sinha, R., A. Singh, and S. Mathur. 2016. “Multi-objective optimization for minimum residual fluoride and specific energy in electrocoagulation process.” Desalin. Water Treat. 57 (9): 4194–4204. https://doi.org/10.1080/19443994.2014.990929.
Tyagi, N., S. Mathur, and D. Kumar. 2014. “Electrocoagulation process for textile wastewater treatment in continuous upflow reactor.” J. Sci. Ind. Res. 73: 195–198.
Vasudevan, S., and J. Lakshmi. 2011. “Studies relating to an electrochemically assisted coagulation for the removal of chromium from water using zinc anode.” Water Sci. Technol. 11 (2): 142–150.
Vik, E. A., D. A. Carlson, A. S. Eikum, and E. T. Gjessing. 1984. “Electrocoagulation of potable water.” Water Res. 18 (11): 1355–1360.
Witek-Krowiak, A., K. Chojnacka, D. Podstawczyk, A. Dawiec, and K. Pokomeda. 2014. “Application of response surface methodology and artificial neural network methods in modelling and optimization of biosorption process.” Bioresour. Technol. 160: 150–160. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2014.01.021.
Zhang, X., W. Fu, Y. Yin, Z. Chen, R. Qiu, M. O. Simonnot, and X. Wang. 2018. “Adsorption-reduction removal of Cr(VI) by tobacco petiole pyrolytic biochar: Batch experiment, kinetic and mechanism studies.” Bioresour. Technol. 268: 149–157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2018.07.125.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Hazardous, Toxic, and Radioactive Waste
Volume 27 • Issue 1 • January 2023
Copyright
© 2022 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Feb 24, 2022
Accepted: Jun 9, 2022
Published online: Oct 7, 2022
Published in print: Jan 1, 2023
Discussion open until: Mar 7, 2023
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.
Cited by
- Işık Kabdaşlı, Olcay Tünay, Hexavalent Chromium Removal from Water and Wastewaters by Electrochemical Processes: Review, Molecules, 10.3390/molecules28052411, 28, 5, (2411), (2023).
- Jiahong Wang, Faisal Sharaf, Aqsa Kanwal, Nitrate pollution and its solutions with special emphasis on electrochemical reduction removal, Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 10.1007/s11356-022-24450-2, 30, 4, (9290-9310), (2022).