The effects of current density and phosphate concentration on phosphate removal from wastewater by electrocoagulation using aluminum and iron plate electrodes

In this study, effects of initial phosphate concentrations and current densities on the phosphate removal by electrocoagulation using either aluminum or iron plate as electrodes were investigated. In the experiments, the results indicate that increase of initial phosphate concentration has reduced removal rate. But energy consumption has decreased because of wastewater conductivity increase. Efficiency of 100% using aluminum electrodes has been obtained in all of initial phosphate concentration, whereas removal efficiency has decreased by increasing initial phosphate concentration in iron electrodes. Either aluminum or iron electrodes were used to investigate effect of current density. It was found that removal rate and removal efficiency have increased by increasing current density. But, system energy consumption has increased by increasing current density. It can be said that aluminum electrode is more suitable than iron electrode by taking into account either removal rate and removal efficiencies on phosphate removal by electrocoagulation. Consequently, electrocoagulation is comparatively suitable process for phosphate removal from wastewater.