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Influences of operational parameters on phosphorus removal in batch and continuous electrocoagulation process performance

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Abstract

Performance of an electrocoagulation (EC) process in batch and continuous operating modes was thoroughly investigated and evaluated for enhancing wastewater phosphorus removal under various operating conditions, individually or combined with initial phosphorus concentration, wastewater conductivity, current density, and electrolysis times. The results revealed excellent phosphorus removal (72.7–100%) for both processes within 3–6 min of electrolysis, with relatively low energy requirements, i.e., less than 0.5 kWh/m3 for treated wastewater. However, the removal efficiency of phosphorus in the continuous EC operation mode was better than that in batch mode within the scope of the study. Additionally, the rate and efficiency of phosphorus removal strongly depended on operational parameters, including wastewater conductivity, initial phosphorus concentration, current density, and electrolysis time. Based on experimental data, statistical model verification of the response surface methodology (RSM) (multiple factor optimization) was also established to provide further insights and accurately describe the interactive relationship between the process variables, thus optimizing the EC process performance. The EC process using iron electrodes is promising for improving wastewater phosphorus removal efficiency, and RSM can be a sustainable tool for predicting the performance of the EC process and explaining the influence of the process variables.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful for the research collaboration between Kyonggi University and the University of Technology Sydney. We would also like to thank Dankook University, Gentro Co., Ltd., and former President Dr. S. D. Kim for this research material and advice that made completion of this work possible.

Funding

This project was supported in part by grants from the Korean Ministry of Environment, as a “Global Top Project” (Project No. 2016002210003), and by the New & Renewable Energy Core Technology Program of the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP) granted financial resource from the Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy, Republic of Korea (Project No. 20143030101040).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department for Management of Science and Technology Development & Faculty of Environment and Labour Safety, Ton Duc Thang University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    Dinh Duc Nguyen

  2. Department of Environmental Energy Engineering, Kyonggi University, Suwon, Republic of Korea

    Dinh Duc Nguyen, Sung Su Kim & Soon Woong Chang

  3. Department of Chemical Engineering, Dankook University, Yongin, Republic of Korea

    Yong Soo Yoon

  4. Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

    Xuan Thanh Bui

  5. Faculty of Food and Environment, Dong Nai Technology University, Dong Nai, Vietnam

    Xuan Thanh Bui

  6. Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology, Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia

    Wenshan Guo & Huu Hao Ngo

Authors
  1. Dinh Duc Nguyen
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  2. Yong Soo Yoon
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  3. Xuan Thanh Bui
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  4. Sung Su Kim
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  5. Soon Woong Chang
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  6. Wenshan Guo
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  7. Huu Hao Ngo
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Soon Woong Chang or Huu Hao Ngo.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Bingcai Pan

Highlights

Two electrocoagulation (EC) modes were investigated for phosphorus removal.

Effects of various operational parameters on EC process performance were assessed.

EC process using iron electrodes achieved high, stable phosphate removal efficiency.

Phosphate removal efficiency in COM was higher than that obtained in BOM

RSM analysis was employed to verify the optimization of operating parameters

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Nguyen, D.D., Yoon, Y.S., Bui, X.T. et al. Influences of operational parameters on phosphorus removal in batch and continuous electrocoagulation process performance. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24, 25441–25451 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0180-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-0180-2

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