Electrochemical Precipitation Treatment of Copper from an Heavymetal Wastewater

중금속폐수에서 구리의 전기화학적 침전처리

This research was conducted in the laboratory to investigate an alternative of Copper(Cu) removal from an heavymetal wastewater using the electrochemical precipitation(ECP) process. The ECP unit consisted of an electrolytic cell made of Titanium plate and Steel plate representing anode and cathode. The DC power source applied to the ECP unit had electrical potential(E) of 50$\pm$ 1V, respectively. The synthetic wastewater used in the experiments contained Cu in the 10 mg/l concentration and the electrode separation were 2, 3, 4 cm and the initial pH were 3, 6, 9, 12, and electrolytic concentration were 0.005, 0.0125, 0.025, 0.0375 mole, and the real heavymetal wastewater used in the experiments. From the experiment for removal efficiency according to pH variation, the low pH area doesn't give the coagulation effect by Ti(OH)$_4$ because process interfere with the coagulation and oxidation reaction, therefore the optimum pH was 4-7. The removal rate was 97.75% after the lapse of 30 minutes when copper concentration and electrolytic concentration were respectively 10 mg/l and 0.025 mole. The removal rate was 96.41% after the lapse of 30minutes when the real heavymetal wastewater used. The optimum consumption of power showed 27KWh/m$^3$ when copper concentration, electrolyte concentration and cell potential were respectively 10 mg/l, 0.025 mole and 50$\pm$ 1 Volt.