Heavy Metal Removal from Ore Processing Plant Wastewater by Electrocoagulation Process

Abstract

Discharging wastewater originating from industries to the receiving environment without any purification causes environmental pollution and endangers biotic life. When the literature is examined it seems that there are studies on acid mine drainage but purification of ore processing wastewater by electrocoagulation (EC) is not seen much. In this study the heavy metal removal from wastewater of ore processing facility (magnesite crushing, screening and washing facility) by using electrocoagulation process was investigated. At the EC process Ferrum-Ferrum electrot was used in parallel. The removed heavy metal parameters have been identified as: Ni2+, Zn2+ ve Cr (VI). In this research study as a result: At removal of Nickel it has been obtained %98,14 efficiency by 21,3mA/cm2 current density, 20 minute contact time and 8,5 pH value, at removal of Zinc, it has been obtained %97,80 efficiency by 16mA/cm2 current density, 40 minute contact time and 8,5 pH value, at removal of Chrome+6, it has been obtained %98,20 efficiency by 16mA/cm2 current density, 20 minute contact time and 7 pH value.