The respective compounds of copper, cadmium and lead, owing to their strong toxic potential, as a result of industrial effluent, have left a trail of contamination in humans and the environment. This paper aimed to study the electrode position on the removal of aqueous solutions of cadmium, lead and copper, using an electrolytic cell with a metallic screen cathode of carbon steel and platinum anode. Removal efficiencies were obtained by analysis of the solutions before and after treatment, using the methodology of cathodic-stripping voltammetry with a mercury drop electrode to quantify the concentrations of Cd 2+ , Pb 2+ and Cu 2+. Removal efficiencies were obtained of 94.07% for cadmium, 94.71% for lead and 96.19% for copper, demonstrating that electrolytic removal is an effective technique for the removal of these metals from simulated industrial wastewater.

Industrial effluents containing cobalt ions have become a serious problem for the environment, unless properly treated, due to their toxic potential. Currently there has been an intensification of the use of cobalt in several industrial sectors as super alloys, catalysts, batteries and pigments in ceramic materials, and a consequent intensification also of environmental contamination. This paper aims to show a simple and effective treatment for the removal of cobalt ions from simulated industrial wastewater, based on cathodic eletrolytic removal using a carbon steel screen. As a result, a 73% removal of cobalt ions from solutions was achieved with a concentration of 400 mg Co 2+ /L, a current of 0.30 A and a voltage of 30 V. In the same conditions, 84% and 88% was removed from 200 mg Co 2+ /L and 100 mg Co 2+ /L, respectively. Thus, this method presents itself as a cheap and efficient alternative for the treatment of industrial effluents containing cobalt ions.