Electrocoagulation in water treatment: Continuous versus batch processes and sludge utilization

Thesis event information

Date and time of the thesis defence

Place of the thesis defence

University of Oulu

Topic of the dissertation

Electrocoagulation in water treatment: Continuous versus batch processes and sludge utilization

Doctoral candidate

Master of Science (Tehnology) Kyösti Rajaniemi

Faculty and unit

University of Oulu Graduate School, Faculty of Technology, Research unit of Sustainable Chemistry

Subject of study

Sustainable chemistry

Opponent

Professor Antti Häkkinen, Lut University

Custos

Docent Sari Tuomikoski, University of Oulu

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Electrocoagulaatio in water treatment and utilization of forming sludge

This thesis deals with novel continuous electrocoagulation (EC) process that was compared to commonly used batch EC process. Comparison was made with different authentic and synthetic water solutions. Several different process parameters were compared like number of microbes decreased in process, decrease of suspended solids, sludge quality and quantity, nutrient removal, energy efficiency and process economy. Novel continuous EC process is very potential alternative to batch process.

The second part of the thesis focuses on EC sludge in selected applications. One publication from this thesis was a review of EC sludge utilization studies in different applications. Nutrient recovery is important to avoid eutrophication in water bodies. and it was studied through struvite, a slow-releasing fertilizer, precipitation in EC process. Further, EC-based sludges were examined as adsorbents (recovery of humic acid) and catalysts (catalytic wet peroxide oxidation of bísphenol A). Calcined EC sludge was found to be a suitable adsorbent and catalyst for the examined applications.

The novel continuous EC process was found to be more energy and economically efficient than batch process in water treatment. The quality of the novel continuous EC process sludge enables utlization possibilities.
Last updated: 23.1.2024