Abstract

In the last decade in la Laguna Mexico arsenic and lead contaminated natural waters, including surface water and ground water, it is a significant problem as some of these compounds are known as toxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic. This study has been carried out to determine the feasibility of adsorption of arsenic and lead on iron magnetic species by Electrocoagulation (EC) with air injection process. The full potential of EC with air injection at the bottom of a reactor is presented as an alternative wastewater treatment technique to improve and remove effectively arsenic and lead from well water. Experiments were conducted to determine the optimum operating conditions such as current density, conductivity, pH and retention time in the reactor. In this research study, A.A, FTIR, X-Ray Diffraction and Scanning Electron Microscopy were used to characterize the solid products, which revealed the expected magnetic crystalline iron oxides (lepidocrocite, magnetite, goethite and iron oxide) Results without adding any chemical reagents, based on the laboratory results and using both a prototype and a pilot plant at industrial level. showed that this innovation in the electrocoagulation process with air injection has an efficiency greater than 99% for the removal of arsenic and lead from contaminated effluents from wells water in la Region Lagunera of Mexico.

Keywords:Electrocoagulation; Water purification; Magnetic species; Air injection