Leachate effluent COD removal using electrocoagulation A response surface methodology (RSM) optimization and modelling

International audienceThis study focused on electrocoagulation treatment of leachate effluent using aluminum electrodes in a discontinuous system, the modeling and optimization of which were carried out using the response surface methodology (RSM) basing on the central composite design (CCD). Moreover, individual and interaction effects of principal independent factors (current density (X1), initial pH (X2), electrolysis time (X3), and distance between electrodes (X4)), on chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency response, were investigated. The obtained results were in good agreement with the predicted ones with correlation factors R2 Dec = 0.94 and R2 Ajusted = 0.88. At the optimal conditions, maximal removal efficiency was achieved for values of chemical oxygen demand (COD), total organic carbon, total nitrogen, and turbidity of 79.8%, 78%, 45.4%, and 99.9%, respectively. The quite good agreement between the experimental values and the predicted results confirms the reliability of the RSM approach in the modeling and optimizing of the leachate treatment using an electrocoagulation process. © 2018 Desalination Publications. All rights reserved