Design of electrocoagulation system for removing non-sugar wastes from beet sugar press-water

Abstract

Electrocoagulation (EC) cells, which work by passing an electric current through aqueous medium using electrodes, have proven to be a very effective technology for removing pollutants from wastewater. The present study deals with the design of an electrochemical cell used to remove unwanted wastes from sugar beet press-water by electrocoagulation mechanism. The operational parameters controlling the removal efficiency of the target waste were studied. These factors include pH, current density (CD), electrolysis time, stirring speed, surface area to volume ratio (S/V), electrode sets, electrode material type, and number of electrode plates. Wastes of sugar beet press-water to be removed are non-sugar materials, color and total hardness. The highest removal efficiencies achieved were 43.32%, 97.95% and 79.80% for non-sugar materials, color and total hardness, respectively. The operating parameters that achieved these results were pH 10.7, current density 25.39 mA/cm2, electrolysis time 60 min, stirring speed 350 rpm, 2Al-2Al electrode array, and S/V ratio 19.2 m-1. The experimental optimum values of anode mass loss and electrical power consumption were 0.76 kg/m3 and 39 kWh/m3, respectively.