TAGUCHI APPROACH FOR COLOR REMOVAL USING ELECTROCOAGULATION WITH DIFFERENT ELECTRODE CONNECTION TYPES

Abstract

In this study, Taguchi experimental design method was applied to determine the optimum operating conditions for treatment of textile wastewater by electrocoagulation (EC) with aluminum-iron electrode pairs. The experimental parameters investigated were electrode connection type; initial pH (pH.): 5-8; conductivity (250-500 mu s/cm); and electrolysis time (5-20 min). These parameters were varied at four levels to see their effects on the removal efficiency. The results show that the electrocoagulation using Fe-Al electrode pairs with different connection modes were able to treat the dye wastewater. The maximum color removal percentage (99.8%) was achieved by the Fe-Al-Fe-Al electrode connection type, pH 6, current density of 75 mA/cm(2), conductivity of 750 mu s/cm and 15 min electrolysis time for RO 16. On the other hand, optimum conditions were determined as Fe-Al-Fe-Al electrode connection mode, pH 6, current density of 75 mA/cm(2), conductivity of 750 mu s/cm and 20 min electrolysis time for RR 239 and complete decolorization were obtained at these parametric conditions.