Electrochemical ferrate generation for waste water treatment using cast irons with high silicon contents

This paper deals with the electrochemical preparation of ferrate in 15 M NaOH media, with a view to treatment of waste waters. Grey cast irons with high silicon contents were shown to allow current yields in the range 20-40% depending on the applied current density, up to 34 mA cm(-2). Ferrate solutions with contents up to 0.08 M could be produced in a divided cell of simple design, and provided with flat or packed-bed electrodes. Deactivation of the anode surface was shown to be of moderate significance for hour-long runs. The ferrate produced was tested for treatment of industrial liquid wastes: coagulation efficiency of the suspended matter was comparable with that of an electrocoagulation process with sacrificial Al anodes. The potential of waste water treatment by addition of ferrate is discussed.