Removal of surfactants from water by electrochemical methods

ABSTRACT Master of Science Thesis REMOVAL OF SURFACTANTS FROM WATER BY ELECTROCHEMICAL METHODS EBRU ÖNDER Anadolu University Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences Environmental Engineering Program Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Ülker BAKIR Ö?ÜTVEREN Co Advisor: AssocProf. Dr. A.Savaş KOP ARAL 2001, Page 125 In this study, two different electrochemical methods, electrochemical oxidation and electrochemical precipitation, have been used for the removal of surface active agents from water. Various surfactant concentrations have been used in electrochemical oxidation and the effects of applied current density and solution flow rates on energy consumption and current efficiency have been investigated. The effects of the concentration of Na2S04 used as supporting electrolyte and pH on removal rate have also been examined. Electrochemical precipitation studies in which iron and aluminium electrodes were used have been carried out in the batch mode. Different initial surfactant concentrations have been used and the effects of the applied current, polarisation, amount of supporting electrolyte and pH on removal rate, energy consumption and current efficiency have been determined. Moreover, removal efficiency of 90 % has been achieved with a model solution of SLES as non ionic surfactant. A water sample from Porsuk river with additional 10 mgL"1 of LAS to its existing surfactant content has been subjected to electrochemical precipitation. Keywords: surfactant, detergent, electrochemical oxidation, electrochemical precipitation