A Comparison Between monopolar and bipolar Electrode configurations on Removal of chromium from synthetic wastewater by Electrocoagulation Process

In this work, the performance of batch electrocoagulation (EC) treatment using iron electrodes with monopolar and bipolar electrode configurations for trivalent chromium (Cr (III)) removal from a synthetic wastewater was investigated. The influences of current density (from 2 to 25 mA/cm2) and initial metal concentration (from 100 to 250 mg/L) on the removal efficiency were explored in a batch stirred cell for monopolar and bipolar configurations. Removal of Cr (III) by EC process from aqueous solution with both monopolar and bipolar electrode configurations was a feasible process. For the initial Cr (III) concentration of 250 mg/L, almost complete removal (99.88%) of Cr (III) was noted after 20 min of EC in case of bipolar electrode arrangement at 25 mA/cm2 with 4.5 mmol/L of supporting electrolyte (Na2SO4) against 89.58% of Cr (III) removal for monopole electrode configuration. At the same electrolysis time, the power consumption was 47 and 15.3 kWh/m3 in case of monopolar and bipolar configuration respectively for the previous removal conditions.