Date of Award

2013

Degree Type

Dissertation

Department

Civil and Environmental Engineering

First Advisor

Hung, Yung-Tse

Subject Headings

Dyes and dyeing -- Waste disposal, Electrocoagulation, Sewage -- Purification -- Flotation, Electrocoagulation Electroflotation Color Dye Wastewater Treatment Response Surface Methodology Photo-oxidation Nanocatalysts

Abstract

The use of dyes has become very significant across various industries such as textiles, paper, and clothing. The organic chemical composition of dyes is a major concern when discharging wastewater not only into the environment, but also within wastewater treatment plants. Dye effluent consists of high chemical oxygen demand (COD) and also color, components that require treatment before discharge. As a result, federal legislation has required industries that discharge high components in wastewater to undergo treatment within the plants. Within literature, authors have considered various biological, physical, and chemical methods of treating dye wastewater. Recently, electrocoagulation/electroflotation (ECF) has been an additional method of treatment that has been considered for the treatment of dye wastewater. Two separate studies are considered. First, Acid Yellow 11 (AY11) at a concentration of 25 mg/L (by weight) underwent treatment from three different coagulants (Alum, Ferric Sulfate, and Ferric Chloride) , under three different strengths (5 mg/L, 10 mg/L, and 15 mg/L), and two different initial pH considerations (4 and 7) for the purpose of analyzing color removal. Following the study, the results were collaborating into a response surface methodology, developing an equation for the three different coagulants. In addition, a Box-Behnken design has been setup for the purpose of considering the effects of pH, dye concentration, dye type, coagulant type and strength on the efficiency of electrocoagulation. These values will be analyzed using statistical analysis, along with toxicity study done on the effectiveness of removing toxic contaminants from the wastewater. Finally, a photo-oxidation study was completed on Acid Orange 7 (AO7) synthetic dye wastewater for the purpose of determining the effects of photo-oxidation based on dye concentration, catalyst type and dose. Langmuir-Hinshelwood coefficients were developed based on the results of this experiment

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