Skip to main navigation Skip to search Skip to main content

Electrokinetic separation of heavy metals from wastewater treatment sludge

  • Seon Young Park
  • , Geun Yong Park
  • , Do Hyung Kim
  • , Jung Seok Yang
  • , Kitae Baek*
  • *Corresponding author for this work
  • Kumoh National Institute of Technology
  • Korea Institute of Science and Technology

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

Abstract

In the study, a preliminary experiment on the removal of heavy metals from industrial wastewater sludge was carried out to evaluate the feasibility of electrokinetic separation. Four different types of processing fluid-tap water, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), citric acid (CA), and 0.1 M nitric acid-were tested. EDTA was found to be the most effective agent within the set of chemicals tested for removing heavy metals from sludge because of its strong chelating ability with metals. The removal efficiency of Pb and Cu was higher than that of Zn and Ni for all fluids. In tap water, EDTA, and CA, the metals moved toward the anode, implying that they existed as complexes with EDTA and CA or organic matter in the processing fluid. In nitric acid, the metals moved toward the cathode because nitric acid effectively desorbed the metal from the sludge; however, the removal efficiency was very low. The results indicated that electrokinetic technology effectively separated Cu and Pb, but not Zn and Ni.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1982-1987
Number of pages6
JournalSeparation Science and Technology
Volume45
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - 2010

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. SDG 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation
    SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation
  2. SDG 9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
    SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

Keywords

  • Chelating ability
  • Electrokinetic separation
  • Processing fluid
  • Sludge

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Electrokinetic separation of heavy metals from wastewater treatment sludge'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this