Removal of Cr(VI) from wastewaters at semi-industrial electrochemical reactors with rotating ring electrodes

In Mexico, most of the electroplating and textile industries are small facilities and release relatively large amounts of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) in surface waters. In this work, the results obtained during the operation of a batch reactor with a capacity of 170 L, and three electrochemical flow reactors-in-series system with a total capacity of 510 L (both using iron rotating ring electrodes to remove Cr(VI) from wastewaters) are presented. The reactors were scaled up from a laboratory reactor to a semi-industrial level, based on the similarity (dynamical, geometrical and electrochemical). An empirical Cr(VI) removal model was validated in batch and continuous reactors at different operating conditions. Cr(VI) concentration of the industrial wastewaters was reduced from about 500 mg/L to values lower than 0.5mg/L. A very important parameter that affects the process is the pH, which affects the solubility of the Fe(III). Finally, the electrochemical treated wastewater can be reused.