Humic acid removal from aqueous environments by electrocoagulation process using iron electrodes

Backgrounds and Presence of humic acids in water resources is important because it is a precursor to disinfection by-products (DBPs) and affects human health and many treatment processes. At present study the performance of anode has been investigated for removal of humic The experiments were performed in a bipolar batch reactor with four iron electrode connected in parallel (bipolar mode). Several working parameters، such as initial pH (3، 5، 7 and 8)، electrical conductivity (50 V) and reaction time were studied in an attempt to achieve the highest removal capacity. Solutions of humic acid with concentration equal 20 mg/l were prepared. To follow the progress of the treatment، samples of 10 ml were taken at 15، 30، 45، 60 and 80 min interval. The pH of the initial solution was also varied to study their effects on the humic concentration was measured by UV absorbance at 254 nm (UV254)، and TOC concentration at the optimum condition was studied. Results obtained with synthetic solutions revealed that the most effective removal capacities of humic acid (92. 69%) could be achieved when the pH was kept equal 5، electrical conductivity and reaction time equal 80 min. But for natural water samples at the same optimum condition It can be concluded that the electrocoagulation process has the potential to be utilized for cost-effective removal of humic acid from aqueous environments.