The application of iron mesh double layer as anode for the electrochemical treatment of Reactive Black 5 dye

In this work a novel anode configuration consisting of an iron mesh double layer is proposed for the electrochemical treatment of wastewater. The removal of Reactive Black 5 dye (RB5) from synthetic contaminated water was used as a model system. At a constant anode surface area, identical process operating parameters and batch process mode, the iron mesh double layer electrode showed better performance compared to the conventional single layer iron mesh. The double layer electrode was characterized by RB5 and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency of 98.2% and 97.7%, respectively, kinetic rate constant of 0.0385/min, diffusion coefficient of 4.9 × 10^− 5 cm²/sec and electrical energy consumption of 20.53 kWh/kg_{dye removed}. In the continuous flow system, the optimum conditions suggested by Response Surface Methodology (RSM) are: initial solution pH of 6.29, current density of 1.6 mA/cm², electrolyte dose of 0.15 g/L and flow rate of 11.47 mL/min which resulted in an RB5 removal efficiency of 81.62%.