All over the world, water sources are being polluted by wastewater. Municipal, industrial, and CAFO operations are under increasing pressure to meet local, federal, and even international discharge standards for wastewater treatment. In the U.S., recent implementation of federal regulations, particularly ammonia discharge, as well as upcoming new regulations for phosphorous and nitrogen removal will necessitate upgrades to current facilities, many of which are operated as lagoon-type systems. There are costly advanced technologies, with high energy use, available to treat the discharge from these facilities, but because of the current domestic financial environment, funding for the U.S. wastewater infrastructure is a significant fiscal issue. A less costly, energy efficient, and effective approach would essentially revolutionize wastewater treatment and solve an insurmountable problem worldwide.

Industrial Water Treatment with Electrocoagulation

Plating wastewater is an excellent match for treatment with an electrocoagulation system.  For example, a plating wastewater stream was treated with the EC treatment process.  The water treated very well in the EC reactor and generated a good floc that settled well following treatment.  A polymer was used to assist in floc formation in the sample.   The metals concentrations in the treated water meet the discharge standards for the client.  The metal concentrations in the raw and treated water are listed below.