Publication: Removal of heavy metals and organic matters from Alor Pongsu landfill leachate by ultrasonic-assisted electrocoagulation.
Loading...
Date
2025-06
Authors
Abdul Tahar, Noor Emylia
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Hybrid treatment technology is one of the methods carried out to improve the effectiveness of leachate treatment due to the high concentration of pollutants and the limited ability of an electrocoagulation (EC) treatment process. This research project aims to study the removal of heavy metals and organic matter using ultrasonic-assisted electrocoagulation (EC-US). Samples were collected from Alor Pongsu Landfill, and the factors used in this experiment were voltage (V), distance between electrodes, ID (cm) and treatment time (minutes). In this study, the ultrasonic-assisted electrocoagulation method was used to compare the results with the electrocoagulation Box-Behnken design, which assessed the effects and interactions of these parameters. The surface morphology of the electrodes used during treatment was observed through field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The optimum removal efficiency obtained was 90.3% (COD), 76.6% (turbidity), 82.7% (color), 95.2% (Pb), and 90.3% (Cr) (V: 9 V, ID: 3.8 cm, T: 25 min) for combined EC-US treatment. Meanwhile, the optimum removal efficiencies obtained for EC treatment were 87.9% (COD), 63.8% (turbidity), 80.7% (color), 94.3% (Pb), and 88% (Cr) (V: 3 V, ID: 3 cm, T: 15 min). The FESEM images revealed that using ultrasonic was useful in minimizing cavitation on the surface of the Al electrode, which could enhance the EC treatment efficiency and save the treatment cost.