Please wait a minute...
Shopping Cart Email List Chinese
Advanced Search Fig/Tab
Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering

ISSN 2095-2201

ISSN 2095-221X(Online)

CN 10-1013/X

Postal Subscription Code 80-973

2018 Impact Factor: 3.883

Featured Articles  |  Most Downloaded  |  Most Reading
Online Submission Subscribe to Our RSS Content Feed
Front. Environ. Sci. Eng.    2021, Vol. 15 Issue (6) : 112    https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-021-1399-1
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Effect of current density on groundwater arsenite removal performance using air cathode electrocoagulation
Yanxiao Si1,2, Fang Zhang2(), Hong Chen3, Guanghe Li1, Haichuan Zhang1, Dun Liu1
1. School of Environment and State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
2. Surface engineering division, Sinopec Petroleum Exploration and Production Research Institute, Beijing 100083, China
3. School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
 Download: PDF(1250 KB)   HTML
 Export: BibTeX | EndNote | Reference Manager | ProCite | RefWorks
Abstract

• With the same charge, current density had little effect on As(III) removal in ACEC.

• ACEC had the lowest energy consumption compared with EC/O2 or EC/N2.

• There was a trade-off relationship between energy consumption and removal time.

• The ·OH concentration in ACEC was 1.5 times of that in the EC/O2 system.

Naturally occurring arsenic enrichment in groundwater poses a huge threat to human health. Air cathode electrocoagulation (ACEC) has recently been proposed to enhance As(III) oxidation and lower energy consumption. In this study, ACEC, EC/O2 and EC/N2 were evaluated with different current densities from 1 to 8 mA/cm2 to investigate the effect on As(III) removal in different redox environments. Current density had no appreciable effect on arsenic removal efficiency given the same charge in ACEC because the concentration ratio of Fe/H2O2 under different current densities remained stable. However, in EC/O2 and EC/N2, As(III) removal was inhibited at higher current densities (4–8 mA/cm2), likely because more Fe(II) competed with As(III) for the oxidant, leading to less effective oxidation of As(III). In all EC systems, the ·OH units generated per power consumption reached the highest value at the lowest current density. Compared with other EC systems, the ACEC system showed lower energy consumption at all current densities due to the low energy consumption of the electrode reaction and more free radical generation. A lower current density saved more energy at the expense of time, showing the trade-off relationship between energy consumption and removal time. The operation costs for As(III) removal under optimal conditions were calculated as 0.028 $/m3 for ACEC, 0.030 $/m3 for EC/O2, and 0.085 $/m3 for EC/N2
Keywords Electrocoagulation      Air cathode      Arsenic      Current density      Energy consumption     
Corresponding Author(s): Fang Zhang   
Issue Date: 08 March 2021
 Cite this article:   
Yanxiao Si,Fang Zhang,Hong Chen, et al. Effect of current density on groundwater arsenite removal performance using air cathode electrocoagulation[J]. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng., 2021, 15(6): 112.
 URL:  
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fese/EN/10.1007/s11783-021-1399-1
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fese/EN/Y2021/V15/I6/112
Fig.1  The schematic of experimental setup for (a) ACEC system, (b) EC/O2 system, (c) EC/N2 system.
Fig.2  Removal of As(III) (-log(CAs(III)/C0)) as a function of charge under different current densities in (a) ACEC, (b) EC/O2 and (c) EC/N2 systems. (98% As(III) removal indicated the residual As(III) concentration is 10 mg/L).
Fig.3  Effect of charge on ·OH generation under different current densities in (a) ACEC, (b) EC/O2 and (c) EC/N2 system, and (d) the ·OH production rate of different systems at the end of 1 h, and the negative of PR value means the system was in power–producing mode.
Fig.4   Correlation between As(Tot) removal (–log(CAs(Tot)/C0)) and the removal energy consumption per order (Wh/log·m3) at different current densities in (a) ACEC, (b) EC/N2, (c) EC/O2. (–log(C/C0)) is –1.7 indicated the residual As(Tot) concentration fulfill the WHO standard (10 μg/L).
Fig.5  Calculated As(Tot) removal time (min) to achieve WHO standards and the corresponding removal energy consumption (Wh/m3). for 1 mA/cm2, for 2 mA/cm2, for 4 mA/cm2, and for 8 mA/cm2.

(The EC/N2 could only achieve acceptable As removal at the current density of 2 mA/cm2 with an energy consumption 50.3 Wh/m3).

Electrode type Contaminants type Concentration Current density range (A/m2) Optimum current density
(A/m2)		 Corresponding removal time
(min)		 Removal
(%)		 The least EEO or EEC Ref.
Fe and Fe As(III) 150 mg/L 1.75–7.5 2.5 12.5 95.3 12.5 Wh/log·m3 Kobya et al., 2011
Fe and Fe As(III) 50 mg/L 5.4–10.7 5.4 30 99.5 143.4 Wh/log·m3 Can et al., 2014
Fe and Fe As(III) 500 mg/L 10–80 10 15.5 98 Produced of 2.6 Wh/log·m3 This study
Fe and air cathode As(III) 500 mg/L 10–80 10 30.4 97.8 3.3 Wh/log·m3 This study
Al and Al Microalgae 3.63 × 1010 cells/L 22.2–66.7 22.2 7 98 58.3 Wh/log·m3 Shi et al., 2017
Al and Al phenol 50 mg/L 64–236 64 120 84 0.061
kWh/g COD		 Abdelwahab et al., 2009
Tab.1  The energy consumption and corresponding current density in contaminants removal using electrocoagulation methods reported in literatures
1 O Abdelwahab, N K Amin, E S Z El-Ashtoukhy (2009). Electrochemical removal of phenol from oil refinery wastewater. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 163(2–3): 711–716
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2008.07.016
2 M Al-Shannag, Z Al-Qodah, K Bani-Melhem, M R Qtaishat, M Alkasrawi (2015). Heavy metal ions removal from metal plating wastewater using electrocoagulation: Kinetic study and process performance. Chemical Engineering Journal, 260(Suppl. C): 749–756
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2014.09.035
3 O Arar, N Kabay, J Sanchez, B L Rivas, M Bryjak, C Pena (2014). Removal of arsenic from water by combination of electro-oxidation and polymer enhanced ultrafiltration. Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy, 33(3): 918–924
https://doi.org/10.1002/ep.11876
4 N Balasubramanian, T Kojima, C A Basha, C Srinivasakannan (2009). Removal of arsenic from aqueous solution using electrocoagulation. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 167(1–3): 966–969
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2009.01.081
5 J M Barazesh, T Hennebel, J T Jasper, D L Sedlak (2015). Modular advanced oxidation process enabled by cathodic hydrogen peroxide production. Environmental Science & Technology, 49(12): 7391–7399
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5b01254
6 S Bayar, Y Ş Yıldız, A E Yılmaz, Ş İrdemez (2011). The effect of stirring speed and current density on removal efficiency of poultry slaughterhouse wastewater by electrocoagulation method. Desalination, 280(1–3): 103–107
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2011.06.061
7 B Z Can, R Boncukcuoglu, A E Yilmaz, B A Fil (2014). Effect of some operational parameters on the arsenic removal by electrocoagulation using iron electrodes. Journal of Environmental Health Science & Engineering, 12(1): 95
https://doi.org/10.1186/2052-336X-12-95
8 M Changmai, M Pasawan, M K Purkait (2019). Treatment of oily wastewater from drilling site using electrocoagulation followed by microfiltration. Separation and Purification Technology, 210: 463–472
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2018.08.007
9 G M Eisenberg (1943). Colorimetric determination of hydrogen peroxide. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry (Analytical Edition), 15(5): 327–328
https://doi.org/10.1021/i560117a011
10 D He, J X Ma, R N Collins, T D Waite (2016). Effect of structural transformation of nanoparticulate zero-valent iron on generation of reactive oxygen species. Environmental Science & Technology, 50(7): 3820–3828
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5b04988
11 P K Holt, G W Barton, M Wark, C A Mitchell (2002). A quantitative comparison between chemical dosing and electrocoagulation. Colloids and Surfaces. A, Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 211(2–3): 233–248
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0927-7757(02)00285-6
12 J Jiang, G Li, Z Li, X Zhang, F Zhang (2016). An Fe-Mn binary oxide (FMBO) modified electrode for effective electrochemical advanced oxidation at neutral pH. Electrochimica Acta, 194: 104–109
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2016.02.075
13 M Kobya, U Gebologlu, F Ulu, S Oncel, E Demirbas (2011). Removal of arsenic from drinking water by the electrocoagulation using Fe and Al electrodes. Electrochimica Acta, 56(14): 5060–5070
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2011.03.086
14 M Kobya, F Ozyonar, E Demirbas, E Sik, M S Oncel (2015). Arsenic removal from groundwater of Sivas-Şarkişla Plain, Turkey by electrocoagulation process: comparing with iron plate and ball electrodes. Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering, 3(2): 1096–1106
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jece.2015.04.014
15 F Li, H Guo, X Zhou, K Zhao, J Shen, F Liu, C Wei (2017). Impact of natural organic matter on arsenic removal by modified granular natural siderite: Evidence of ternary complex formation by HPSEC-UV-ICP-MS. Chemosphere, 168: 777–785
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2016.10.135
16 L Li, C M van Genuchten, S E A Addy, J Yao, N Gao, A J Gadgil (2012). Modeling As(III) oxidation and removal with iron electrocoagulation in groundwater. Environmental Science & Technology, 46(21): 12038–12045
https://doi.org/10.1021/es302456b
17 J F Martínez-Villafañe, C Montero-Ocampo, A M Garcia-Lara (2009). Energy and electrode consumption analysis of electrocoagulation for the removal of arsenic from underground water. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 172(2–3): 1617–1622
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2009.08.044
18 D T Moussa, M H El-Naas, M Nasser, M J Al-Marri (2017). A comprehensive review of electrocoagulation for water treatment: Potentials and challenges. Journal of Environmental Management, 186(Part 1): 24–41
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2016.10.032
19 Z V P Murthy, S Parmar (2011). Removal of strontium by electrocoagulation using stainless steel and aluminum electrodes. Desalination, 282: 63–67
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.desal.2011.08.058
20 R Nickson, J McArthur, W Burgess, K M Ahmed, P Ravenscroft, M Rahmann (1998). Arsenic poisoning of Bangladesh groundwater. Nature, 395(6700): 338–338
https://doi.org/10.1038/26387
21 F Ozyonar, K Bunyamin (2011). Operating cost analysis and treatment of domestic wastewater by electrocoagulation using aluminum electrodes. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies, 20(1): 173–179
22 F Ozyonar, B Karagozoglu (2014). Investigation of technical and economic analysis of electrocoagulation process for the treatment of great and small cattle slaughterhouse wastewater. Desalination and Water Treatment, 52(1–3): 74–87
https://doi.org/10.1080/19443994.2013.787373
23 F Ozyonar, Karagozoglu B (2015). Treatment of pretreated coke wastewater by electrocoagulation and electrochemical peroxidation processes. Separation and Purification Technology, 150: 268–277
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2015.07.011
24 F Ozyonar, A Sümeyye (2016). Removal of salicylic acid from aqueous solutions using various electrodes and different connection modes by electrocoagulation. International Journal of Electrochemical Science, 11: 3680–3696
https://doi.org/10.20964/110454
25 W Shi, L Zhu, Q Chen, J Lu, G Pan, L Hu, Q Yi (2017). Synergy of flocculation and flotation for microalgae harvesting using aluminium electrolysis. Bioresource Technology, 233(Suppl. C): 127–133
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2017.02.084
26 Y Si, G Li, Y Wu, H Zhang, Y Yuan, H Zhang, B Liu, F Zhang (2018). Tradeoff between groundwater arsenite removal efficiency and current production in the self-powered air cathode electrocoagulation with different oxygen reduction pathways. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 357: 138–145
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2018.05.048
27 Y Si, G Li, F Zhang (2017). Energy-efficient oxidation and removal of arsenite from groundwater using air-cathode iron electrocoagulation. Environmental Science & Technology Letters, 4(2): 71–75
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.estlett.6b00430
28 C Tai, J F Peng, J F Liu, G B Jiang, H Zou (2004). Determination of hydroxyl radicals in advanced oxidation processes with dimethyl sulfoxide trapping and liquid chromatography. Analytica Chimica Acta, 527(1): 73–80
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aca.2004.08.019
29 C M van Genuchten, J Peña (2017). Mn(II) oxidation in Fenton and Fenton type systems: Identification of reaction efficiency and reaction products. Environmental Science & Technology, 51(5): 2982–2991
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.6b05584
30 Y Wang, H Zhao, S Chai, Y Wang, G Zhao, D Li (2013). Electrosorption enhanced electro-Fenton process for efficient mineralization of imidacloprid based on mixed-valence iron oxide composite cathode at neutral pH. Chemical Engineering Journal, 223(Suppl. C): 524–535
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2013.03.016
31 S Xie, S Yuan, P Liao, M Tong, Y Gan, Y Wang (2017). Iron-anode enhanced sand filter for arsenic removal from tube well water. Environmental Science & Technology, 51(2): 889–896
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.6b04387
32 B Yang, Y Han, Y Deng, Y Li, Q Zhuo, J Wu (2016). Highly efficient removal of perfluorooctanoic acid from aqueous solution by H2O2-enhanced electrocoagulation-electroflotation technique. Emerging Contaminants, 2(1): 49–55
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emcon.2016.04.001
33 W Yang, W He, F Zhang, M A Hickner, B E Logan (2014). Single-step fabrication using a phase inversion method of poly (vinylidene fluoride)(PVDF) activated carbon air cathodes for microbial fuel cells. Environmental Science & Technology Letters, 1(10): 416–420
https://doi.org/10.1021/ez5002769
[1] FSE-20176-OF-SYX_suppl_1 Download
[1] Hailan Wang, Baoyu Gao, Li’an Hou, Ho Kyong Shon, Qinyan Yue, Zhining Wang. Fertilizer drawn forward osmosis as an alternative to 2nd pass seawater reverse osmosis: Estimation of boron removal and energy consumption[J]. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng., 2021, 15(6): 135-.
[2] Yaocheng Fan, Tiancui Li, Deshou Cun, Haibing Tang, Yanran Dai, Feihua Wang, Wei Liang. Removal of arsenic by pilot-scale vertical flow constructed wetland[J]. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng., 2021, 15(4): 79-.
[3] Sana Ullah, Xuejun Guo, Xiaoyan Luo, Xiangyuan Zhang, Yameng Li, Ziyu Liang. The coupling of sand with ZVI/oxidants achieved proportional and highly efficient removal of arsenic[J]. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng., 2020, 14(6): 94-.
[4] Zhenlian Qi, Shijie You, Ranbin Liu, C. Joon Chuah. Performance and mechanistic study on electrocoagulation process for municipal wastewater treatment based on horizontal bipolar electrodes[J]. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng., 2020, 14(3): 40-.
[5] Xingguo Guo, Qiuying Wang, Ting Xu, Kajia Wei, Mengxi Yin, Peng Liang, Xia Huang, Xiaoyuan Zhang. One-step ball milling-prepared nano Fe2O3 and nitrogen-doped graphene with high oxygen reduction activity and its application in microbial fuel cells[J]. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng., 2020, 14(2): 30-.
[6] Xiaoming Wan, Mei Lei, Tongbin Chen. Review on remediation technologies for arsenic-contaminated soil[J]. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng., 2020, 14(2): 24-.
[7] Songwei Lin, Yaobin Lu, Bo Ye, Cuiping Zeng, Guangli Liu, Jieling Li, Haiping Luo, Renduo Zhang. Pesticide wastewater treatment using the combination of the microbial electrolysis desalination and chemical-production cell and Fenton process[J]. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng., 2020, 14(1): 12-.
[8] Luxi Zou, Huaibo Li, Shuo Wang, Kaikai Zheng, Yan Wang, Guocheng Du, Ji Li. Characteristic and correlation analysis of influent and energy consumption of wastewater treatment plants in Taihu Basin[J]. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng., 2019, 13(6): 83-.
[9] Xiaoxue Mei, Heming Wang, Dianxun Hou, Fernanda Leite Lobo, Defeng Xing, Zhiyong Jason Ren. Shipboard bilge water treatment by electrocoagulation powered by microbial fuel cells[J]. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng., 2019, 13(4): 53-.
[10] Mei Lei, Ziping Dong, Ying Jiang, Philip Longhurst, Xiaoming Wan, Guangdong Zhou. Reaction mechanism of arsenic capture by a calcium-based sorbent during the combustion of arsenic-contaminated biomass: A pilot-scale experience[J]. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng., 2019, 13(2): 24-.
[11] Yaobin Lu, Songli He, Dantong Wang, Siyuan Luo, Aiping Liu, Haiping Luo, Guangli Liu, Renduo Zhang. A pulsed switching peroxi-coagulation process to control hydroxyl radical production and to enhance 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid degradation[J]. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng., 2018, 12(5): 9-.
[12] Zhenlian Qi, Jinna Zhang, Shijie You. Effect of placement angles on wireless electrocoagulation for bipolar aluminum electrodes[J]. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng., 2018, 12(3): 9-.
[13] Ping He, Guangxue Wu, Rui Tang, Peilun Ji, Shoujun Yuan, Wei Wang, Zhenhu Hu. Influence of arsanilic acid, Cu2+, PO43− and their interaction on anaerobic digestion of pig manure[J]. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng., 2018, 12(2): 9-.
[14] Dong Xu, Yang Li, Lifeng Yin, Yangyuan Ji, Junfeng Niu, Yanxin Yu. Electrochemical removal of nitrate in industrial wastewater[J]. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng., 2018, 12(1): 9-.
[15] Si-Yu Zhang, Paul N. Williams, Jinming Luo, Yong-Guan Zhu. Microbial mediated arsenic biotransformation in wetlands[J]. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng., 2017, 11(1): 1-.
Viewed
Full text


Abstract

Cited
  Shared   
  Discussed