Reduction of hexavalent chrome from artificial effluent of chrome: Batch electrocoagulation method [Reducción del cromo hexavalente de efluente artificial de cromado: Método de electrocoagulación por lotes]

Abstract

The present research evaluated treatment time, electrode area / effluent volume ratio, on the% reduction of hexavalent chromium in artificial chrome plating effluents, was evaluated by the batch electrocoagulation method; Method for which A-36 steel anodes and cathodes of (5.0 x 5.0 x 0.2) cm were used. The number of electrodes and the separation between them was varied in order to vary the ratio of electrode area / effluent volume and; for a batch type electrocoagulation reactor in which 27 tests were carried out; keeping the volume of effluent treated constant. From the results obtained, it was determined that the increase in the electrocoagulation time and the electrode area / effluent volume ratio influence the percentage of hexavalent chromium reduction of the artificial chromium plating, as supported by ANOVA and test F; the maximum reduction percentage achieved was 91.65%, with respect to the initial concentration (20 mg/L), for a test time of 60 minutes and a ratio of electrode area / effluent volume of 0.912 m2/L.