Comparative experimental study on the COD removal in aqueous solution of pesticides by the electrocoagulation process using monopolar iron electrodes

A comparative study for the COD removal of Chlorpyrifos, Fenitrothion (3%) and Acetamiprid (20%) by electrocoagulation process was performed. The effect of various parameters of electrocoagulation (EC) on removal efficiency was studied and optimized. The COD removal using nonpolar iron electrodes was affected by current density, contact time, initial pH and initial concentration of pesticides. The optimum conditions for the electrocoagulation process were identified as contact time (4, 5 and 10 min), for a maximum abatement of 100 mg/L pesticide solution, respectively. The results provide an important idea for the development electrocoagulation process to remove pesticides significantly along with COD removal using moderate iron concentration, thereby lowering the cost of treatment. Moreover, results show that the pesticide was removal quickly with a maximum rate of 87% for the contact time of 4 min, which revealed that pesticides wastewater can be treated using electrocoagulation.