Sustainable Treatment of Toxic Leachate: Removal of Cadmium and Lead from Payatas Dumpsite Using Electrocoagulation

This research examines the effect of using electrocoagulation as a means of treating the lead and cadmium content in the Payatas leachate using aluminum electrodes. The Payatas leachate is a threat to the environment and the health of the people residing near the facility. Three factors (initial pH, voltage, and time) are analyzed to determine the most effective treatment condition that would ensure the heavy metal content remains within the minimum standards of DAO Class C water effluent. The experimental factors are varied based on the following: initial pH (5, 8, and 11), applied voltage (4.0 V, 6.0 V, 8.0 V), and electrocoagulation (EC) time (30 min, 60 min, 90 min). The initial and final metal concentrations are determined with the help of inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). The results showed that the optimized values of the parameters based on the percent reduction of cadmium and lead content are pH 8, 8.0 V at 90 min, and pH 5, 6.0 V at 30 min, respectively. From an economic perspective, the cost-effectiveness of the process is assessed based on the energy consumption in terms of the total cost of electricity used. Based on the economic evaluation, the most effective setting for the electrocoagulation process is pH 11, 6.0 V at 90 min, and pH 8, 4.0 V, at 30 min for cadmium and lead, respectively. This work elucidated the potential of the electrocoagulation process as an alternative technique for the treatment of toxic leachate from the Payatas dumpsite. The sustainability of the process can be improved further through the integration of a renewable energy source into the EC system.