Electrocoagulation for industrial wastewater treatment: an updated review

Electrocoagulation (EC) is a promising method that has been effectively employed in the treatment of various types of industrial effluent. Its distinct advantages such as good effluent quality, compact installation, simple operation and reduced sludge generation make it effective to treat numerous recalcitrant pollutants. To provide an overview of the current state and future potential of EC technology in industrial wastewater treatment, this paper presents a review of the most relevant recent publications. Aspects such as the characteristics, mechanism, and applicability of EC and factors affecting the EC efficiency are thoroughly reviewed. Additionally, the management of EC sludge as well as the development of emerging hybrid technologies are discussed systematically. This review highlights the applicability of EC in the treatment of real industrial wastewaters. In the long term, the EC treatment process will likely be recognized as one of the core methods for the treatment of various industrial effluents.

Automated summary

Electrocoagulation (EC) is a promising method for treating industrial effluent, offering advantages such as good effluent quality, compact installation, simple operation, and reduced sludge generation for treating various recalcitrant pollutants. The review thoroughly examines the characteristics, mechanism, applicability, and factors affecting the efficiency of EC, along with discussions on the management of EC sludge and the development of emerging hybrid technologies. The review emphasizes the applicability of EC in treating real industrial wastewaters and predicts it to be one of the core methods for industrial effluent treatment in the long term.