Simultaneous removal of lead and copper from synthetic water by electrocoagulation and techno-economic evaluation: optimization through response surface methodology

Abstract

In the present study, the electrocoagulation process using iron electrodes was used to treat synthetic water containing lead and copper. Box-Behnken design of response surface methodology was applied to optimize the process variables namely initial pH, current density and treatment time along with operating cost. At optimum conditions (initial pH: 5, current density: 50 A/m², treatment time: 40 min), the model predicted value for removal of lead and copper was found as 102.81% and 99.75%, respectively with an operating cost of 0.481 USD/m³. Whereas, the actual or experimental values of lead and copper removal were found as 99.98 % and 99.88 % as well as operating cost of 0.476 USD/m³, which signifies a good closeness between the model predicted values and actual values. The concentration of lead and copper in treated water was found below the permissible limits as per CPCB norms for industrial discharge.