Badejo, A., Nkeshita, F., Olanipekun, A., Bada, B., David, A., Ndambuki, J., Kupolati, W. (2025). Evaluating the performance of an electrocoagulation process using response surface methods for textile wastewater treatment. , 43(9), 766-774. doi: 10.30684/etj.2025.161784.1974
Adedayo A. Badejo; Fidelis C. Nkeshita; Ayorinde J. Olanipekun; Babatunde S. Bada; Adekunle O. David; Julius M. Ndambuki; Williams K. Kupolati. "Evaluating the performance of an electrocoagulation process using response surface methods for textile wastewater treatment". , 43, 9, 2025, 766-774. doi: 10.30684/etj.2025.161784.1974
Badejo, A., Nkeshita, F., Olanipekun, A., Bada, B., David, A., Ndambuki, J., Kupolati, W. (2025). 'Evaluating the performance of an electrocoagulation process using response surface methods for textile wastewater treatment', , 43(9), pp. 766-774. doi: 10.30684/etj.2025.161784.1974
Badejo, A., Nkeshita, F., Olanipekun, A., Bada, B., David, A., Ndambuki, J., Kupolati, W. Evaluating the performance of an electrocoagulation process using response surface methods for textile wastewater treatment. , 2025; 43(9): 766-774. doi: 10.30684/etj.2025.161784.1974

Evaluating the performance of an electrocoagulation process using response surface methods for textile wastewater treatment

Engineering and Technology Journal
Volume 43, Issue 9, September 2025, Pages 766-774    PDF (1.24 M)
Document Type: Research Paper
DOI: 10.30684/etj.2025.161784.1974
Authors
Adedayo A. Badejo1; Fidelis C. Nkeshita1; Ayorinde J. Olanipekun2; Babatunde S. Bada3; Adekunle O. David* 4; Julius M. Ndambuki4; Williams K. Kupolati4
1Department of Civil Engineering, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria.
2Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria.
3Department of Environmental Management and Toxicology, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria.
4Department of Civil Engineering, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, South Africa.
Abstract
The textile industry is one of the largest polluters of water resources, producing effluents containing complex mixtures of pollutants such as dyes, heavy metals, and high biological oxygen demand. Electrocoagulation (EC) is an efficient wastewater treatment technique that uses iron or aluminum electrodes to coagulate and adsorb pollutants. This work assesses the performance of EC for textile wastewater treatment to identify the best combination of pH (5-9), electrolysis time (20-60 min), and voltage (5-11 V) on Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and color removal. The results show that voltage and electrolysis time had a positive effect on the efficiencies of pollutant removal, reaching the maximum efficiency of 70.06 and 87.36 when pH was 7, electrolysis time 60 min, and 11 V. The quadratic regression models obtained by Response Surface Methodology (RSM) had good predictive ability with the adjusted R² of 0.9684 for COD and 0.9843 for color. Statistical significance of the pH, voltage, and their interaction was further verified using the ANOVA test as significant factors that helped to explain the treatment effect. This study also highlights the possibility of using EC as a cost-effective and energy-saving technology compared to conventional chemical coagulation and advanced oxidation processes, with satisfactory treatment obtained at modest voltage and time demands. The study contributes to the knowledge of parameter optimization and enhances the applicability of EC in reducing the effects of textile effluents on the environment.

Highlights
  • Electrocoagulation was evaluated for textile wastewater treatment using Response Surface Methodology
  • pH, voltage, and electrolysis time significantly affected COD and color removal efficiency
  • Optimal removal occurred at pH 7, electrolysis time 60 min, and 11 V, achieving high treatment performance
  • Statistical models showed strong predictive accuracy, confirming key influential parameters
  • Results supported electrocoagulation as a low-cost, energy-efficient treatment for textile wastewater
Keywords
Electrocoagulation; Wastewater; Textile; Optimization; Contaminants; Treatment
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