Developing an innovative approach for industrial wastewater treatment: Assessing the effectiveness of electrocoagulation in the removal of chromium VI from electroplating

Electrocoagulation has shown remarkable effectiveness in the treatment of industrial effluents, particularly in the removal of metal contaminants. The electrochemical processes occurring in aluminum electrodes have been remarkably effective in this regard. In the present study, electrocoagulation experiments were performed on industrial effluents originating from an electroplating bath located in Casablanca, Morocco. The basic objective was to remove chromium from the effluent and to facilitate the reuse of the treated water for various applications within our facility. To achieve this goal, a systematic optimization of several operational parameters affecting the electrocoagulation efficiency was performed. These parameters included voltage, electrode material, stirring speed, and electrode spacing. Their effects on key response variables, namely pH, conductivity, and chromium concentration, were rigorously evaluated. The experiments were carried out in a well-mixed reactor using a synthetic solution with a high concentration of chromium, namely 1000 mg/L Cr6+(aq). The chromium removal efficiency was evaluated under precisely controlled conditions, using aluminum electrodes with applied voltages of 6 V and 12 V, an optimal stirring speed of 600 rpm, and an electrode spacing of 2 cm. This study demonstrates the critical operating parameters that maximize the effectiveness of electrocoagulation in the treatment of chromium-laden industrial effluents, providing valuable insights for industrial applications and environmental management.