Mathematical Modelling for Predicting Wastewater Treatment Efficiency Through Specialised Electrocoagulation

Abstract

Based on experimental results on different pollutants removal efficiencies through a specialized electrocoagulation system, simple mathematical models were developed for the predictions of pollutants’ removal efficiencies for any combination of input conditions. Based on earlier experimental results two independent variables, flowrate and voltage were considered for the derivations of the generalized equations. Based on individual experimental results, relationships between flowrate and pollutant removal efficiency was derived using best-fit relationship for eight different pollutants; BOD, COD, Ammonia, TSS, TDS, Chloride, Turbidity and Hardness. Then individual relationships for different voltages were amalgamated to a single equation, which is capable to predict the specific pollutant removal efficiency for any flowrate under any voltage. Except Ammonia and TSS, developed models’ predicted results are having excellent match with the measured pollutants’ removal efficiencies having correlation coefficients (R 2 ) between modeled and measured values ranging from 0.99 to 1.0. Correlation coefficient values for Ammonia and TSS were 0.96 and 0.94 respectively. Other standard error statistics were also low; RMSE ranging from 0.21 to 3.54, MAE ranging from 0.17 to 2.33 and RAE ranging from 0.0 to 0.08. Among all the developed models, highest performing model was for the BOD having an R 2 value of 1.0 and RAE value of 0.0.

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