Evaluation of the Potential of the Aluminum Scrap Electrode in the Electrocoagulation Process of Methylene Blue in Synthetic Effluent

This study evaluated the potential of scrap aluminum electrodes in the electrocoagulation/peroxidation process for treating synthetic effluent containing methylene blue dye. The tests were performed in a batch electrochemical reactor using Box–Behnken factorial design to investigate the influence of reaction time, dye concentration, hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), and sodium chloride (NaCl) on color removal, total organic carbon (TOC), and sludge production. The results showed color removal efficiencies ranging from 20.9 to 82.9%, while TOC removal reached up to 73%. Analysis of variance indicated that dye concentration and reaction time were the most significant factors, both with a positive linear effect. NaCl increased the system's conductivity, whereas H 2 O 2 exerted a competitive effect that primarily influenced sludge formation. Sludge production ranged from 0.5 to 3.1 g and was directly associated with reaction time and electrode consumption. The results demonstrate that aluminum scrap is a viable, cost-effective, and sustainable alternative for treating dye-containing effluents.