Use of recycled aluminum - polyethylene composite films as anodic electrodes for electrocoagulation of wastewater

Abstract

This work evaluates the use of aluminum contained in the aluminum-polyethylene films as anodic electrodes using the electrocoagulation technique to reduce the pollutants contents of an industrial wastewater quickly and effectively. Two different current densities were applied 25 and 12.5 mA cm-2. When the current density of 25 mA cm-2 is used, the aluminum electrodes reduce the COD of wastewater by about 65% and the aluminum-polyethylene films electrodes reduces the COD by 56%. The color and turbidity reductions are 87 and 90% respectively. The use of aluminum-polyethylene films as electrodes in the electrocoagulation process contributes to the pollutant removal without the addition of chemical reagents or changing the pH, so it is both effective and environmentally friendly.