ELECTROCOAGULATION/FLOTATION TREATMENT OF SYNTHETIC SURFACE WATER

Rainfall generated surface runoff water could contaminate groundwater through transportation of suspended solids and organic matter in to the aquifer. Surface runoff water composition mainly depends on soil amendment. Surface runoff mainly contains clay, minerals, organic and inorganic matter, total dissolved lead, zinc. ECF technology presents an alternative for the removal of total suspended solids, turbidity, and organic matter from generated surface runoff water. This research presents development of bench scale ECF unit for the treatment of synthetic surface water. Experiments were conducted in a 10 liter Plexiglas unit provided with two aluminum electrodes, one serving as cathode, and other as anode. Direct current was applied to the electrodes by an external power supply. Optimal operational parameters were varied depends up on strength of the surface water. For low strength synthetic surface water the optimal operational variables were determined as an applied current of I = 2 ampere and a treatment time of 30 minutes. The overall turbidity removal efficiency was found to be 80 % and % transmittance was found 94.1 % under such conditions. For medium strength synthetic water the optimal operational variables were determined as an applied current of I = 3 ampere and a treatment time of 30 minutes. The overall turbidity removal efficiency was found 70 % and % transmittance was found 93 % under such conditions. Further experimentation was carried out on the determination combined maximum organic matter and turbidity removal efficiencies. Effect of chemical coagulants lime, aluminum sulfate octa decahydrate and ferric sulfate in ECF treatment was investigated.