Three-dimensional batch electrochemical coagulation (ECC) of health care facility wastewater-clean water reclamation

Three-dimensional (3D) batch ECC of raw health care facility wastewater (HCFWW) was adopted using stainless steel (SS) and aluminum (Al) scrap metal particle electrodes. ECC treatment was focused on priority quality parameters viz., chemical oxygen demand (COD), color, and other important water quality parameters. Sludge settling and filterability for post-ECC slurry were investigated after ECC. COD removals of 87.56 and 87.2% were achieved for current densities (CD) 83.33 and 125 A/m² using SS-3D electrodes, and similarly, 86.99 and 86.23% COD removal for Al-3D electrodes. Simultaneously, color removals were 88.50 and 87.60% for CD 166.66 A/m² (4A) using SS and Al-3D electrodes. Water quality parameters viz., nitrate, phosphates, and sulfate were also removed by 93.18%, 96.83%, and 41.07% for SS-3D electrodes, while Al-3D electrodes showed 93.15%, 96.72%, and 25.94% removal. Post-ECC slurry settling was good for all the applied CD using SS-3D electrodes generating dense and sturdy flocs. Al-3D electrodes showed excellent floc settling properties. SS-3D electrode flocs displayed good filterability at 1A with α: 2.497 × 10¹¹ m kg^-1 and R_m 1.946 × 10¹⁰ m^-1. Post-ECC slurry using Al-3D electrodes were viscous causing delayed filterability giving α: 1.1760 × 10¹¹ m kg^-1 and R_m 1.504 × 10⁹ m^-1 for 3A. E. coli was destroyed by 97 and 98% for 2A and 3A respectively. Clear water reclamation of 85-90% and pollutants/contaminants removed within a short HRT of 75 min proved the effectiveness of adopting 3D-ECC for treating raw HCFWW.