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A significant reduction in the cost of the iron electrodes-based electrocoagulation process with higher tetracycline removal performances when addressed by a time-integrated performance index

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Abstract

This work used a time-integrated performance index to significantly address the low cost of the Electrocoagulation process to strengthen its tetracycline removal performance. The main goal was controlling the time-depending tetracycline removal efficiency of the electrocoagulation process was searched by choosing a better combination of the electrode material and electrolyte species types for getting a stabilization condition of the total electric voltage. The response surface methodology was included to address, compare and rescue the best results of the time-integrated performance index. The electrolyte type, pH of the aqueous media, electric conductivity, and electric voltage were assessed to better respond to the performance of tetracycline removal. In this regard, an iron-based electrocoagulation reactor was operated over 40 to 67 A m−2 of electric current density supported by 5 to 10 mS cm−1 electric conductivity values, testing a 10-to-90 min electrocoagulation time range. A 10-to-60 mol m−3 concentration range of Cr, Zn, Ca, and K cationic species was tested to set 5-to-10 mS cm−1 electric conductivity values and assess their influences on EC performance due to each one separately. In combination with Fe electrodes, Ca2+ electrolytes have driven to a stable electric conductivity in time besides pH buffering at the alkaline region with the best electrocoagulation performance, resulting getting a low and stable total electric voltage (less than 10 V). Using Fe electrodes and Ca2+ electrolytes, a Box-Behnken experimental design was performed regarding ranges of 4-to-8 solution pH, 40-to-94 A m−2 electric current density, and 10-to-30 min time. A time-integrated performance index as the response variable was proposed for addressing a better tetracycline removal. Finally, a 40 A m−2 electric current density allowed the maximal time-integrated performance index value over 30 min, removing above 97% tetracycline with minimal electric power consumption.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Multiuser Analytical Center—CAM/NBQ of the State University of West Paraná—Campus Toledo for analyses in the TXRF spectrometer, UV spectrophotometer and TOC analyzer.

Funding

This work was supported by the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) under grants # 303729/2021-0 and # 304324/2021-3, besides the authors W.V.R. Valençola and I.C. Dall'Oglio by the National Council for the Improvement of Higher Education (CAPES)—Finance Code 001.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Postgraduate Program of Chemical Engineering, West Paraná State University, Rua da Faculdade 645, Jardim Santa Maria, Toledo, PR, 85903-000, Brazil

    Fernando Rodolfo Espinoza-Quiñones, Aparecido Nivaldo Módenes, William Vitor Rodrigues Valençola & Isabella Cristina Dall’Oglio

  2. Center for Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Paraná West State University, Campus of Cascavel, Cascavel, PR, 85819-110, Brazil

    Phallcha Luízar Obregón

  3. Department of Engineering and Exact Science, Federal University of Paraná, Palotina, PR, Brazil

    Maurício Romani

  4. Laboratory of Advanced Technologies (LAT), Chemical Engineering Building, University Campus of Toledo, West Paraná State University, Rua da Faculdade 645, Jardim Santa Maria, Toledo, PR, 85903-000, Brazil

    Fernando Rodolfo Espinoza-Quiñones

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  1. Fernando Rodolfo Espinoza-Quiñones
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  2. Aparecido Nivaldo Módenes
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  3. William Vitor Rodrigues Valençola
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Contributions

F.R. Espinoza-Quiñones and A.N. Módenes conceived of the presented idea. F.R. Espinoza-Quiñones and W.V.R. Valençola designed and performed the experiments, derived the models and analysed the data. W.V.R. Valençola, I.C. Dall’Oglio, P.L. Obregón and Maurício Romani verified the analytical methods. F.R. Espinoza-Quiñones and A.N. Módenes developed the theoretical formalism, performed the analytic calculations and performed the numerical simulations. F.R. Espinoza-Quiñones and A.N. Módenes took the lead in writing the manuscript. All authors provided critical feedback and helped shape the research, analysis and manuscript.

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Correspondence to Fernando Rodolfo Espinoza-Quiñones.

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Espinoza-Quiñones, F.R., Módenes, A.N., Valençola, W.V.R. et al. A significant reduction in the cost of the iron electrodes-based electrocoagulation process with higher tetracycline removal performances when addressed by a time-integrated performance index. J Appl Electrochem 54, 25–39 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-023-01947-3

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