Purification by Electrocoagulation in a Whey: Kinetics of the Process

Abstract

Liquid effluents  have been treated by electrocoagulation (EC), obtaining encouraging results in the removal of contaminants. The aim of this study was the application of the EC for the treatment of acid whey with reduced organic loading . Whey were analyzed for their pH, pZ, isoelectric point and COD. We used a batch-type electrochemica l reacto r of  2 L and a study volta  and chronopotentiometric conditions for potential and  current using 3 electrodes supported on Teflon plate separation of 10  mm, aluminum and iron as anode  and graphite oxide ruthenium/titanium cathode and a reference electrode. In and for the EC was evaluated considering  the kinetics in response the highest percentage of COD removal or efficiency percentage, and variation of pH and pZ. We conclude that the best arrangement of electrodes was the Al-OxRut. In the first 8 hours, the pH increased from 4,82 to 8,67  and 6,56  for Fe and Al species. Among  the  top 10 and 12 h of EC maximum  is  reached significant change and the increased removal of COD  by the formation of colloids  and  emulsions  oxyhydroxides  of  iron and/or aluminum in the occlusion re-entering the organic macromolecules. The COD removals were higher with the pairs Al-OxRut and Al-Graf, who had a 83 % and 66 % respectively at 10 h. To arrange for iron is not reached up to 50 % efficiency.