Simultaneous removal of microplastics and benzalkonium chloride using electrocoagulation process: statistical...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Chemistry
• Water Treatment Technologies
• Electrochemistry

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic increased environmental release of microplastics and benzyldimethyldodecylammonioum chloride (DDBAC).
• Co-occurrence of these pollutants poses a significant post-pandemic environmental threat.
• Effective removal strategies are crucial for mitigating ecological risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the performance of an electrochemical system for simultaneous microplastic and DDBAC removal.
• To optimize operating parameters for maximum removal efficiency.
• To assess the techno-economic feasibility of the developed process.

Main Methods:

• Electrochemical treatment system utilizing various applied voltages, pH levels, and electrolyte concentrations.
• Central Composite Design (CCD) and Response Surface Methodology (RSM) for experimental design and optimization.
• Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to validate mathematical models and assess parameter significance.

Main Results:

• Optimal conditions (pH 7.4, 80 min, 0.05 M electrolyte, 12.59 V) achieved high removal rates.
• Maximum removal efficiencies: 82.50% for microplastics, 90.35% for DDBAC, and 83.60% for TOC.
• Validated models confirmed the significance of operating parameters for pollutant removal.

Conclusions:

• The electrochemical system demonstrates high efficacy in simultaneously removing microplastics and DDBAC.
• Techno-economic analysis indicates the process is a commercially viable option for water and wastewater treatment.
• This technology offers a promising solution for managing emerging co-occurring environmental pollutants.