Pilot-scale electrochemical advanced oxidation (EAOP) system for the treatment of Ni-EDTA-containing wastewater

Electrochemical advanced oxidation processes (EAOP) have shown great potential for the abatement of complexed heavy metals, such as metal-EDTA complexes, in recent studies. While removal of metal-EDTA complexes has been extensively examined in bench-scale reactors, much less attention has been given to the efficacy of this process at larger scale. In this study, we utilize a 72 L pilot-scale continuous flow system comprised of six serpentine flow channels and 90 pairs of flow-through electrodes for the degradation of Ni-EDTA complexes and removal of Ni from solution. The influence of a range of key operating parameters including flow rate, current density and initial Ni-EDTA concentration on rate and extent of Ni-EDTA degradation and Ni removal were examined. Our results showed that at a feed flow rate of 36 L h