How does Electrocoagulation (EC) work

In EC, when an external direct current voltage is applied, then different electrochemical reactions may take place at the anode and cathode of an electrolytic cell. EC involves the generation of in-situ metal coagulant by electrolytic dissolving sacrificial anode materials (aluminium or iron).
In case of aluminium, the anodic process, involves the oxidative dissolution of aluminium into aqueous solution which is presented in reaction (1). In the cathode, the reductive dissociation of water would also take place, see reaction (2).

Anode
Al(s)→Al3+(aq) + 3e−
(1)
Cathode
2H2O + 2e− → H2(g) + 2OH−(aq)
(2)

 

Aluminium ions (Al3+) produced by electrolytic dissolution of the anode, which act as coagulant reagent, hydrolyze and form mono-nuclear complexes according to the following sequence:

Al3+ +H2O → Al(OH)2+ +H+
(3)
AlOH2+ + H2O → Al(OH)+2 + H+
(4)
Al(OH)+2 + H2O → Al(OH)3 + H+
(5)
Al(OH)3 + H2O → Al(OH)-4 + H+
(6)
Reference: Jafari et al., 2023

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