Investigation of organic and inorganic matters removal from tannery wastewater using iron plate electrode by electrocoagulation process

In this study, COD, turbidity, total nitrogen, phosphate, sulphate,

oil-grease and chromium removals from wastewaters taken from

a local tannery using the electrocoagulation process were examined

and the most suitable parameters for the electrocoagulation

system were tried to be determined. Soluble iron plate electrodes

were used as electrodes in the experiments. As a result of the

studies carried out, the most suitable initial pH in uncontrolled pH

was determined as pH = 4 and for controlled pH as pH = 5.In

studies, the most suitable current density for iron electrodes was

determined as 1.2 mA cm−2. Even if the increase in current density

increased the amount of dissolved Fe, it negatively affected the

removal efficiency. In addition, the turbidity of the wastewater was

removed in 30 minutes, phosphate in 20 minutes and chromium in

15 minutes by 100%. During 60 minutes of operation, while 62.91%

of TN, 87.8% of oil-grease were removed, sulphate was removed at

the rate of 54.78%. In the studies, 1st and 2nd order kinetic equations

for COD removal were examined and it was determined that

removal kinetic is more suitable for 2nd order kinetics.