Development of a solar electrocoagulation technology for decentralised water treatment Available to Purchase

The goal of this research was to investigate the feasibility of using electrocoagulation (EC) as a primary surface water treatment process that could be used with solar panels in decentralised locations. In this study, the removal of turbidity, ultraviolet light at 254 nm (UV 254) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was studied. Operating parameters such as current density (0·91–10 mA/cm²) and charge loading (0·083–1·250 A h/l) in bipolar and monopolar configuration were studied using a direct current (DC) power supply. Experimental results showed that a current density of 4·55 mA/cm² and a treatment time of 60 min in the bipolar configuration allowed the best removal of turbidity, UV 254 and DOC (97·0, 93·0 and 95·2%, respectively). For the second part of the study, the DC power supply was replaced by two photovoltaic panels without the use of a set of batteries and a charge controller. According to the results, the turbidity removal is directly proportional to the solar radiation intensity. This suggests that it is possible to control the charge loading by adjusting the treatment time as a function of solar intensity. Such outcomes suggest that solar-powered EC would be a suitable technology for areas not connected to centralised water treatment networks.