Optimizing copper removal from synthetic water using electrocoagulation and response surface methodology

Abstract

The purification of water and wastewater requires a lot of energy and large amounts of chemicals can still be used with conventional techniques. The electrocoagulation (EC) method, an electrochemical treatment approach, has been suggested as a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative. In this study, the removal of copper from synthetic water was investigated using EC technique. Box-Behnken Design (BBD) and Response Surface Methodology (RSM) were applied to optimize operating parameters such as current density, electrolysis time and initial pH. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to assess the effect of factors and their interactions, and multiple regression analysis was used to fit it to a second-order polynomial equation. According to the results, current density had the greatest impact on copper removal. A current density of 7.24 mA/cm², a reaction time of 27.43 minutes, and an initial pH value of 7.56 were determined to be optimal conditions. Under these optimal conditions, the copper removal efficiency was 97.5%. Therefore, EC combines with RSM is an efficient treatment approach for copper-contaminated water.