Defluoridation of drinking water using a new flow column-electrocoagulation reactor (FCER) - Experimental, statistical, and economic approach.
A new batch, flow column electrocoagulation reactor (FCER) that utilises a perforated plate flow column as a mixer has been used to remove fluoride from drinking water. A comprehensive study has been carried out to assess its performance. The efficiency of fluoride removal (R%) as a function of key operational parameters such as initial pH, detention time (t), current density (CD), inter-electrode distance (ID) and initial concentration (C0) has been examined and an empirical model has been developed. A scanning electron microscopy (SEM) investigation of the influence of the EC process on morphology of the surface of the aluminium electrodes, showed the erosion caused by aluminium loss. A preliminary estimation of the reactor's operating cost is suggested, allowing for the energy from recycling of hydrogen gas hydrogen gas produced amount. The results obtained showed that 98% of fluoride was removed within 25 min of electrolysis at pH of 6, ID of 5 mm, and CD of 2 mA/cm2. The general relationship between fluoride removal and operating parameters could be described by a linear model with R2of 0.823. The contribution of the operating parameters to the suggested model followed the order: t > CD > C0> ID > pH. The SEM images obtained showed that, after the EC process, the surface of the anodes, became non-uniform with a large number of irregularities due to the generation of aluminium hydroxides. It is suggested that these do not materially affect the performance. A provisional estimate of the operating cost was 0.379 US $/m3. Additionally, it has been found that 0.6 kW/m3is potentially recoverable from the H2gas.
Department of Civil Engineering, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK; Department of Environment Engineering, Babylon University, Babylon, Iraq. Electronic address: k.s.hashim@2013.ljmu.ac.uk.
Khalid S
KS
Hashim
Department of Civil Engineering, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK.
Andy
A
Shaw
Department of Civil Engineering, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK.
Rafid
R
Al Khaddar
Department of Civil Engineering, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK.
Montserrat
M
Ortoneda Pedrola
Department of Civil Engineering, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK.
David
D
Phipps
D060766:Drinking Water; D004563:Electrochemistry; D004564:Electrocoagulation; D004566:Electrodes; D004572:Electrolysis; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D018508:Water Purification
D060766:Drinking Water
Electrocoagulation; Fluoride; Modelling; Operating cost; Perforated electrodes; SEM