REMOVAL OF MICROALGAE FROM WATER MEDIUM BY ELECTROCOAGULATION PROCESS

Abstract

In the present work, the electrocoagulation process using aluminum electrodes was used for removal of microalgae from aqueous solution. The experiments were performed using the following parameters: effect of applied potential; concentration of NaCl; Utilization of salts other than NaCl, in particular (NH4)2SO4 and CaCl2; effect of agitation and flow rate. The main results were: increasing the potential results in increasing of the efficiency microalgae removal. The best concentration of NaCl is 1.0 g/L, and NaCl is a better support electrolyte than the other studied salts. The electrocoagulation of microalgae in this study does not depend on the agitation of the solution or on the continuous flow rate. In the best parameters investigated, high removal efficiency of microalgae was observed, being about 97%.