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Background and Objectives: Presence of humic acids in
water resources is important because it is a precursor to disinfection
by-products (DBPs) and affects many treatment processes. In this study, we
investigated the performance of electrocoagulation process duad with hydrogen
peroxide (creating Fenton process) in removal of humic acids (HA) from aqueous
environment.
Materials and Methods: The experiments were performed using a 1 L bipolar batch reactor (covered with
the aluminum foil) equipped with iron electrodes and connected to electric
source having electrical potential 10 V in bipolar mode. First, reactor was
filled up using aqueous solution containing 20 mg/L HA. Later, several working
parameters, such as initial pH (3, 5, 7, and 8), electrical conductivity
produced from adding 1, 1.5, 2 and 3 g/l KCl and reaction time were studied to
achieve the highest humic acid removal capacity. To follow the progress of the
treatment, hydrogen peroxide (50 mg/l) was added to reactor and then samples of
10 ml were taken at 5, 15, 30, 45, and 60 min and then filtered (0.45 μ) to
eliminate sludge formed during electrolysis. Finally, humic acid and iron
concentration was measured using TOC analyzer and atomic absorption method
respectively.
Results: Results of
this study showed that the most effective removal capacities of humic acid
(97.19%) could be achieved when the pH was kept 5(KCl 3g/l and reaction time 60
min). The share of Fenton and electrocoagulation process was %7.9 and %92.1
respectively. In addition, our results indicated that the removal efficiency of
humic acid with increase of pH and electrical conductivity parameters decreases
and increases respectively.
Conclusion: It can be
concluded that the Fenton process duad with electrocoagulation process has the
potential to be utilized for cost-effective removal of humic acid from aqueous
environments.
