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The purpose of this work was to develop a pilot plant purification system and apply it to groundwater used for human consumption, containing high concentrations of arsenic and increased levels of phosphates, ammonia, mercury and color. The groundwater used was obtained from the production well in the Vinkovci County (Eastern Croatia). Due to a complex composition of the treated water, the purification system involved a combined electrochemical treatment, using iron and aluminum electrode plates with simultaneous ozonation, followed by a post-treatment with UV, ozone and hydrogen peroxide. The removal of the contaminant with the waste sludge collected during the electrochemical treatment was also tested. The combined electrochemical and advanced oxidation treatment resulted in the complete removal of arsenic, phosphates, color, turbidity, suspended solids and ammonia, while the removal of other contaminants of interest was up to 96.7%. Comparable removal efficiencies were obtained by using waste sludge as a coagulant.

This article presents a pilot-plant study of the electroplating wastewater treatment by the processes of electroreduction with iron electrode plates, and electrocoagulation/ozonation with aluminum electrode set, followed by the process of ozonation. The initial effluent was found to be highly enriched in heavy metals and to possess the elevated levels of organic contaminants. The values of Cr(VI), Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb, TOC, and COD exceeded the upper permissible limits of 63, 220.2, 1.1, 7, 131.3, 1.7, 12.3, and 11.4 times, respectively. The heavy metal removal was forced either by the coagulation/flocculation using Fe(II), Fe(III), and Al(III) ions released into the treated solution by the electrochemical corrosion of the sacrificial iron and aluminum electrodes, or the precipitation of the metal hydroxides as well as co-precipitation with iron and aluminum hydroxides. The principle organic matter destruction mechanisms were ozone oxidation and the indirect oxidation with chlorine/hypochlorite formed by the anodic oxidation of chloride already present in the wastewater. Following the combined treatment, the removal efficiencies of Cr(VI), Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb, TOC, and COD were 99.94%, 100.00%, 95.86%, 98.66%, 99.97%, 96.81%, 93.24%, and 93.43%, respectively, thus complying with the regulated values.

The aim of this research was development of appropriate procedure for the treatment of landfill leachate taken from the Visevac, Mraclinska Dubrava and Piskornica sanitary landfills. Due to the complex nature of the effluents a combined treatment approach was applied. The pretreatment step included simultaneous treatment with calcium oxide and electrocoagulation/electrooxidation by stainless steel electrode set. The main treatment included electrocoagulation/electrooxidation using the set of stainless steel, iron and aluminum electrodes. The pretreatment allowed the destruction and/or coagulation of the high molecular weight organic substances as well as optimization of pH values for the formation of reactive oxidative species, and the transformation of NH(4)-N into volatile NH(3)-N. In the presence of added calcium oxide and electrochemically generated coagulant the removal of the fluorides, phosphates and heavy metals occur through the formation of poorly soluble fluorapatite, hydroxyl apatite, and various hydroxides. During the main treatment electrochemically generated reactive oxidative species carried out rapid decomposition of the organic matter and ammonia, resulting in the removal of COD from 74.9% to 94.2%, color from 98.8% to 99.7%, turbidity from 98.4% to 99.3%, suspended solids from 97.1% to 99.3%, and ammonia from 99.6% to 99.7%. Slightly better results for the removal efficiency of color, turbidity and suspended solids were obtained in the case of Piskornica landfill compared with the other two landfills, while the COD removal efficiency decreases in the following order: Piskornica >Mraclinska Dubrava >Visevac. This could be related to the age of the landfill, which increases in the same order. Consequently, with the increasing age of the landfill the degree of degradability of the organic matter reduces significantly. Applied treatment approach resulted in clear, colorless and odorless effluent with the values of all measured parameters significantly lower compared to the upper permissible limit for discharge into the environment.

A new procedure for electroplating waste water treatment using waste by-product (ferrous-sulfate) and waste (wood fly ash) is presented. Ferrous-sulfate was employed for Cr(VI) reduction whereas neutralization and heavy metals removal from electroplating waste waters was performed using wood fly ash. Heavy metal removal efficiency varied from 97.5% for Cu to 99.973% for Zn. Satisfying results can be achieved already at the pH 8. The method is suitable for the purposes of waste water treatment and disposal in compliance with environmental laws. Furthermore, it is technically simple, cost-efficient and requires less space compared to the classical methodology. According to the composition of its water extractable fraction remaining waste ash could be safely deposited on domestic waste repositories.