Electrocoagulation process in water treatment: A review of electrocoagulation modeling approaches

• Published in: Desalination Vol. 404; pp. 1 - 21
• Main Authors: Hakizimana, Jean Nepo, Gourich, Bouchaib, Chafi, Mohammed, Stiriba, Youssef, Vial, Christophe, Drogui, Patrick, Naja, Jamal
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.02.2017; Elsevier
• Subjects: Chemical and Process Engineering; Drinking water; Electrochemical cell design; Electrocoagulation; Electrocoagulation process; Electrode materials; Engineering Sciences; Mechanisms; Modeling; Modelling; Operating cost; Pollution abatement; Reactor design; Reactors; Research and development; Water treatment; Water treatment; Operating cost; Mechanisms; Electrochemical cell design; Modeling; Electrocoagulation process
• ISSN: 0011-9164; 1873-4464
• DOI: 10.1016/j.desal.2016.10.011

Electrocoagulation process (EC) has been the subject of several reviews in the last decade, and is still a very active area of research. Most published works deals with applications for treatment of drinking water and urban, industrial or agricultural wastewaters so as to enhance the simultaneous abatement of soluble and colloidal pollution. These also include contributions to theoretical understanding, electrode materials, operating conditions, reactor design and even techno-economic analysis. Even though, the numerous advantages reported in the literature, and the pros and cons of EC in comparison to alternative processes, its industrial application is not yet considered as an established wastewater technology because of the lack of systematic models for reactor scale-up. This paper presents a comprehensive review on its development and design. The most recent advances on EC reactor modeling are summarized with special emphasis on four major issues that still constitute the cornerstone of EC: the theoretical understanding of mechanisms governing pollution abatement, modeling approaches, CFD simulations, and techno-economic optimization. Finally, outlooks for future research and developments are suggested. •Electrocoagulation is a versatile process able to treat drinking and waste waters.•The pros and cons of electrocoagulation (EC) are compared to alternative processes.•EC suffers from a lack of scale-up methodology and the current models are reviewed.•Four challenges emerge, covering theoretical, modeling and techno-economic aspects.•Outlooks for future research and developments are suggested.