Removal of arsenic from drinking water by the electrocoagulation using Fe and Al electrodes

A novel technique of electrocoagulation (EC) was attempted in the present investigation to remove arsenic from drinking waters. Experiments were carried out in a batch electrochemical reactor using Al and Fe electrodes with monopolar parallel electrode connection mode to assess their efficiency. The effects of several operating parameters on arsenic removal such as pH (4–9), current density (2.5–7.5 A m⁻²), initial concentration (75–500 μg L⁻¹) and operating time (0–15 min) were examined. Optimum operating conditions were determined as an operating time of 12.5 min and pH 6.5 for Fe electrode (93.5%) and 15 min and pH 7 for Al electrode (95.7%) at 2.5 A m⁻², respectively. Arsenic removal obtained was highest with Al electrodes. Operating costs at the optimum conditions were calculated as 0.020 € m⁻³ for Fe and 0.017 € m⁻³ for Al electrodes. EC was able to bring down aqueous phase arsenic concentration to less than 10 μg L⁻¹ with Fe and Al electrodes. The adsorption of arsenic over electrochemically produced hydroxides and metal oxide complexes was found to follow pseudo second-order adsorption model. Scanning electron microscopy was also used to analyze surface topography of the solid particles at Fe/Al electrodes during the EC process.