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Natural and electro-flocculation of Cr, Cd, Co, and Ni during estuarine mixing

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Abstract

Estuaries play an important role in purifying trace metals through flocculation. The research objective is to find the flocculation mechanism of Cd, Cr, Co, and Ni in the Shafa Rud estuary. In addition, the study tries to control flocculation process using alternating current. For this purpose, the filtered river and seawater sample were mixed at different ratios in a series of aquaria. Subsequently, while sinusoidal voltage was applied, all experiments were repeated. The results indicated that as the river gradually mixes with the sea in the estuarine zone, 93.5%, 88%, 67%, and 61% of Cd, Cr, Co, and Ni concentration are flocculated, respectively. Further analyses revealed that flocculated metals lose their stability and return to the soluble phase again. That is why, the flocculation rate of Cd, Cr, Co, and Ni decreases to 92.5%, 76%, 51%, and 32.5%, respectively. It was also found that a 6-volt sinusoidal voltage intensifies the flocculation rate of Cr and Co so that their concentration reach the standard level in the aquatic environments. Once the natural behavior of the metals and their respective flocculation is known, it would be possible to use such processes in the treatment of polluted metals.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environment, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

    A. Marefat & A. Karbassi

  2. Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Alberta, Canada

    A. Ghaderi

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  1. A. Marefat
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  2. A. Ghaderi
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  3. A. Karbassi
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Correspondence to A. Marefat.

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Editorial responsibility: Samareh Mirkia.

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Marefat, A., Ghaderi, A. & Karbassi, A. Natural and electro-flocculation of Cr, Cd, Co, and Ni during estuarine mixing. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 20, 5995–6002 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-023-04863-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-023-04863-3

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