A review on the treatment of water and wastewater by electrocoagulation process: Advances and emerging applications

Electrocoagulation (EC) is a potential water treatment method for eliminating various pollutants, including pathogens, organic compounds, and heavy metals. The EC technique is broadly used to treat drinking water and various industrial wastewater because of its ease of operation, ecofriendly nature, and versatility. EC process can also be operated at a higher flow rate and requires less space than traditional treatment systems. This review article provides an in-depth assessment of the reaction mechanism and several operational parameters (viz., current density, electrode gap, stirring speed, solution conductivity, and solution pH) involved in the EC process. Advancements in the EC reactor design and modeling of the process parameters have been elaborately demonstrated. The effectiveness of the EC process in treating drinking water (such as arsenic, fluoride, phosphate, microplastic, and bacteria and viruses) and industrial wastewater (viz. textile, pulp and paper, petroleum, and pharmaceutical) has also been discussed and summarized. The results are critically examined, and modifications are recommended accordingly to increase the EC process's cost-effectiveness and sustainability. Moreover, three case studies from different wastewater sources involving the use of EC techniques are included in this review article. The economic assessment of the EC process and suggestions for its improvement are also provided.