Electrocoagulation-electroflotation

Based on these fundamentals, many systems and apparatus have been built, being operative on an industrial scale. Different types of reactors have also been designed. The electrodes may be parallel plates [162, 163] or sacrificial Al pellets as anode [164,165]. The feeding of pressurized air has been implemented in many electrocoagulation-electroflotation systems [159,166-168]. Some plants have a press to remove water from the sludge [169,170] and a processing tank with a closed S-shaped one-way flow path [171]. 

Ibanez JG, Singh MM, Szafran Z. Laboratory experiments on electrochemical remediation of the environment Part 4. Color removal of simulated wastewater by electrocoagulation-electroflotation. J Chem Educ 1998 75 1040-1041. 

It is generally believed that there are three possible mechanisms involved in the process electrocoagulation, electroflotation, and electrooxidation. However, it can be suggested that, during the bipolar EC-EF process, bipolar aluminum electrodes are mainly responsible for electrocoagulation. 

Ibanez, J. G. Singh, M. M. Szafran, Z. Laboratory Experiments on the Electrochemical Remediation of Environment. Part 4 Color Removal of Simulated Wastewater by Electrocoagulation-Electroflotation, J. Chem. Educ. 1998, 75, 1040-1041. 

Essadki AH, Gourich G, Vial C, Delmas H, Bennajah M (2009) Defluoridation of drinking water by electrocoagulation/electroflotation in a stirred tank reactor with a comparative performance to an external-loop airlift reactor. J Hazard Mater 168 1325... 

An application is then presented to show the efficiency of electrocoagulation/ electroflotation in removing colour from synthetic and real textile wastewater by using aluminum and iron electrodes in an external-loop airlift reactor. The defluoridation is also showed. The time, pH, conductivity and current density are the most parameters for the removal efficiency and energy consumption. 

Several parameters can affect the efficiency of removal by electrocoagulation/ electroflotation. The most important parameters are described bellow. 

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