Removal of cadmium from dilute aqueous solutions with a rotating cylinder electrode of expanded metal

J. M. GRAU; J. M. BISANG

JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY

John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Lugar: Norwich; Año: 2003 vol. 78 p. 1032 - 1037

0268-2575

The removal of cadmium from dilute solutions using a continuous undivided electrochemical reactor with a rotating cylinder cathode of expanded metal is analysed. The effects of cathodic applied potential, size and orientation of expanded metal meshes and inlet cadmium concentration were ascertained. The results show that cadmium can be removed from dilute solutions (inlet concentration range 5–50mg dm−3) with a high fractional conversion of between 35 and 40% depending on the operating conditions. Thus a minimal residual cadmium concentration of 3mgdm−3 was achieved. The specific energy consumption increases from 0.6 to 2kWhmol−1 as the cadmium concentration decreases.