Removal of Lignin from Wastewater through Electro-Coagulation

Abstract

The present work deals with the removal of lignin (expressed as COD removal) from synthetic wastewater through electro coagulation in a batch reactor using Aluminum as a sacrificial electrode. Effect of various parameters such as current density, pH, NaCl concentration and treatment time on the removal of COD from synthetic wastewater has been investigated to determine the most suitable process conditions for maximum removal of COD (lignin). A central composite design (CCD) has been used to design the experimental conditions for developing mathematical models to correlate the removal efficiency with the process variables. The most suitable conditions for the removal of lignin from synthetic solution were found to be as current density: 100A/m2, pH: 7.6, NaCl concentration: 0.75mg/l and treatment time: 75min. The proposed model gives prediction on COD (lignin) removal with the error limit of around + 9 to - 7%.