Proceedings

This paper presents compares the performance of the electrocoagulation (EC) process for simulated acid,
disperse and reactive dyebath effluent treatment using aluminum and stainless steel electrodes. The
experimental results have indicated that practically complete color (93-100%) and partial COD (38-89%)
removals could be achieved once EC conditions were optimized in terms of initial pH, electrolyte
concentration, applied current density and treatment time. Slight differences in treatment performance
during EC of the selected dyebath samples with different electrode materials were attributable to dyebath
type (polarity and chemical structure of dyebath ingredients, organic content) and different reaction
mechanisms postulated for aluminum and stainless steel sacrificial electrodes.

KEYWORDS
Acid, disperse and reactive dyebath effluent; color and COD removals; dyehouse effluent;
electrocoagulation; metal hydroxide sludge formation; textile industry wastewater.