SavedAdd your journal

Journals / Journal of International Environmental Application and Science / 2026 / Volume: 21 Issue: 1

Electrocoagulation vs. Bio-Coagulation: A Comparative Study on Dye Removal Efficiency

Kanwal Kanwal(U.S.-Pakistan Center for Advanced Studies in Water (USPCAS-W), Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro)
Abdul Aziz Chan(Institute of Environmental Engineering and Management, Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro)
Kundan Kumar(University of Idaho)0009-0006-4669-883X
Pages
—
Publication Date
2026-03-15
DOI
—
🏛️Bibliographic metadata and full text access for this article are provided via DergiPark.
DergiPark Record ↗
✨

AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

These findings show that by comparing both techniques, bio-coagulation is effective and sustainable approach for mitigating textile wastewater pollution.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Wastewater generated from textile industries is a major environmental concern due to its toxicity and resistance to biodegradation which led to human health impacts and risk.
📊
Key Findings & Data:In electrocoagulation, the effect of pH, applied current, and contact time was studied to determine its optimum performance, while in bio-coagulation, dosage, pH, contact time, and agitation speed were optimized.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:These findings show that by comparing both techniques, bio-coagulation is effective and sustainable approach for mitigating textile wastewater pollution.
🔬Design:Research Article
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Bio-Coagulant · Electrocoagulation · Potato peel

Abstract

Wastewater generated from textile industries is a major environmental concern due to its toxicity and resistance to biodegradation which led to human health impacts and risk. This research employed the electrocoagulation and flocculation for the removal of dye. In electrocoagulation, the effect of pH, applied current, and contact time was studied to determine its optimum performance, while in bio-coagulation, dosage, pH, contact time, and agitation speed were optimized. Experiments were conducted at current densities of 8, 14, and 16 A, pH levels of 4 and 8, and contact times of 10, 15, and 25 minutes to evaluate electrocoagulation impact on pollutant removal efficiency. Bio coagulation experiments were conducted on dosage 0.025 – 0.1 g/L, pH 4 – 10, contact time 15 – 45 minutes, and agitation speed 40 – 100 RPM. From the experimental work of Electrocoagulation, the best removal efficiency percentage at 16A was 94% at 25 minutes, and pH of 8, and removal efficiency percentage when using bio-coagulant is 96% at 0.25g, 6 pH, 100 rpm, and 45minutes contact time. These findings show that by comparing both techniques, bio-coagulation is effective and sustainable approach for mitigating textile wastewater pollution.

🔖

Cite This Article

Kanwal, K., Chan, A. A., Kumar, K. (2026). Electrocoagulation vs. Bio-Coagulation: A Comparative Study on Dye Removal Efficiency. Journal of International Environmental Application and Science, Volume: 21 Issue: 1. https://ajindex.com/articles/1112207

📄 Full Text PDF Viewer

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

References (39)

  1. Assémian AS, Kouassi KE, Adouby K, Drogui P, Boa D, (2018) Removal of Methylene Blue in aqueous solutions by Electrocoagulation process: Adsorption, Kinetics, studies. Eur. J. Chem., 9(4), 311–316. https://doi.org/10.5155/eurjchem.9.4.311-316.1736
  2. Baaloudj O, Langerame F, Iunnissi R, Buttiglieri G, Buono DD, Khadhar S, Scrano L, Trotta V, Brienza M, (2025) Biochar-based Downflow Fixed-Bed Adsorption Systems for Water Treatment: Process Optimization, Reusability, and Techno-Economic Evaluation. Sep. Purif. Technol., 377, 134347. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2025.134347
  3. Bener S, Bulca Ö, Palas B, Tekin G, Atalay S, Ersöz G, (2019) Electrocoagulation process for the treatment of real textile wastewater: Effect of operative conditions on the organic carbon removal and kinetic study. Process Saf. Environ. Prot., 129, 47–54. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psep.2019.06.010
  4. Bouhadjra K, Lemlikchi W, Ferhati A, Mignard S, (2021) Enhancing removal efficiency of anionic dye (Cibacron blue) using waste potato peels powder. Scie. Reports, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-79069-5
  5. Chauke TMD, Mashifana T, Monapathi ME, Okoli BJ, Obed OZ, Modise JS, (2025) Efficiency chloride removal based on mono-variable experimental data in electrocoagulation with aluminium and stainless-steel electrodes. Results Eng., 27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rineng.2025.107002
  6. Chen X, Memon HA, Wang Y, Marriam I, Tebyetekerwa M, (2021) Circular Economy and Sustainability of the Clothing and Textile Industry. Mater. Circ. Econ., 3(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42824-021-00026-2
  7. Chethana M, Sorokhaibam LG, Bhandari VM, Raja S, Ranade VV, (2016) Green Approach to Dye Wastewater Treatment Using Biocoagulants. ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng., 4(5), 2495–2507. https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.5b01553
  8. Darkun K, Mulyawati I, Febrina L, Patulak A, (2024) The Influence of Aloe Vera Biocoagulant and Mixing Time in Reducing Biological Oxygen Demand, Chemical Oxygen Demand and Total Suspended Solids Levels. Environ. Res., Eng. Manage., 80(3), 149–161. https://doi.org/10.5755/j01.erem.80.3.35873
  9. Dadebo D, Nasr M, Fujii M, Ibrahim MG, (2022) Bio-coagulation using Cicer arietinum combined with pyrolyzed residual sludge-based adsorption for carwash wastewater treatment: A techno-economic and sustainable approach. J. Water Process Eng., 49, 103063. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2022.103063.
  10. Puteri RD, Hadisoebroto R, Kusumadewi RA, (2020) Effects of Mixing Speed on Turbidity and Dyes Removal from Wastewater with Tiger Shrimp Shells as Biocoagulant. Int. J. Sci. Technol. Res., 9(3), 2089-2094.
  11. Ebba M, Asaithambi P, Alemayehu E, (2021) Investigation on operating parameters and cost using an electrocoagulation process for wastewater treatment. Appl. Water Sci., 11(11). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13201-021-01517-y
  12. Fouad OA, Adly YM, Hosny WM, Mohamed GG, Mostafa MR, (2024) Kinetics and process optimization studies for the effective removal of cresyl fast violet dye using reusable nanosized mullite. Scie. Reports, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-81653-y
  13. Goyi AA, Sher Mohammad NM, Omer KM, (2024) Preparation and characterization of potato peel derived hydrochar and its application for removal of Congo red: a comparative study with potato peel powder. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol., 21(1), 631–642. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-023-04965-y Graça NS, Rodrigues AE, (2022) The Combined Implementation of Electrocoagulation and Adsorption Processes for the Treatment of Wastewaters. Clean Technol., 4(4), 1020-1053. https://doi.org/10.3390/cleantechnol4040063
  14. Haque MS, Nahar N, Sayem SM, (2021) Industrial water management and sustainability: Development of SIWP tool for textile industries of Bangladesh. Water Resour. Ind., 25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wri.2021.100145 Ighalo JO, Omoarukhe FO, Ojukwu VE, Iwuozor KO, Igwegbe CA, (2022) Cost of adsorbent preparation and usage in wastewater treatment: A review. Cleaner Chem. Eng., 3, 100042. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clce.2022.100042
  15. Jo S, Kadam R, Jang H, Seo D, Park J, (2024) Recent Advances in Wastewater Electrocoagulation Technologies: Beyond Chemical Coagulation. Energies, 17(23). https://doi.org/10.3390/en17235863
  16. Kalivel P, Singh RP, Kavitha S, Padmanabhan D, Krishnan SK, Palanichamy J, (2020) Elucidation of electrocoagulation mechanism in the removal of Blue SI dye from aqueous solution using Al-Al, Cu-Cu electrodes - A comparative study. Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf., 201, 110858. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.110858
  17. Khan SU, Khalid M, Hashim K, Jamadi MH, Mousazadeh M, Basheer F, Farooqi IH, (2023) Efficacy of Electrocoagulation Treatment for the Abatement of Heavy Metals: An Overview of Critical Processing Factors, Kinetic Models and Cost Analysis. Sustainability, 15(2). https://doi.org/10.3390/su15021708
  18. Kumar K, Arain M, Channa A, (2022) Evaluation of operational parameters for the removal of turbidity and total coliform from wastewater using fabricated electrocoagulation treatment unit. Mehran University Res. J. Eng. Tech., 41(2), 35–43. https://doi.org/10.22581/muet1982.2202.04
  19. Laishram D, Kim B, Lee Y, Park J, (2025) Advancements in Biochar as a Sustainable Adsorbent for Water Pollution Mitigation. Adv. Sci., 12(19), 2410383. https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202410383
  20. Maaliou A, Ouakouak A, (2021) Preparation and Characterization of Biochar Produced from Potato Peels and Sawdust: A Comparative Study. 2nd International Symposium on Mater. Chem. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/351986924
  21. Mansouri K, Ibrik K, Bensalah N, Abdel-Wahab A, (2011) Anodic dissolution of pure aluminum during electrocoagulation process: Influence of supporting electrolyte, initial pH, and current density. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res., 50(23), 13362–13372. https://doi.org/10.1021/ie201206d
  22. Murali AS, Saraswathyamma B, (2025) Innovative electrochemical quantification of brilliant blue dye with polyvinylpyrrolidone-stabilized MOS₂. Mater. Chem. Phys., 332, 130155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matchemphys.2024.130155
  23. Nandi BK, Patel S, (2017) Effects of operational parameters on the removal of brilliant green dye from aqueous solutions by electrocoagulation. Arabian J. Chem., 10, S2961–S2968. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arabjc.2013.11.032
  24. Negash A, Tibebe D, Mulugeta M., Kassa Y., (2023) A study of basic and reactive dyes removal from synthetic and industrial wastewater by electrocoagulation process. S. Afr. J. Chem. Eng., 46, 122–131. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sajce.2023.07.015
  25. Nithyalakshmi B, Saraswathi R, Praveen S, (2023) Removal of basic fuchsin red dye by turmeric leaf waste biochar: Batch adsorption studies, isotherm kinetics and RSM studies. Global Nest J., 25(1), 17–27. https://doi.org/10.30955/gnj.004443
  26. Nouj N, Hafid N, Alem NEl, Cretescu I, (2021) Novel liquid chitosan-based biocoagulant for treatment optimization of fish processing wastewater from a Moroccan plant. Materials, 14(23). https://doi.org/10.3390/ma14237133
  27. Obiora-Okafo IA, Onukwuli OD, Igwegbe CA, Onu CE, Omotioma M, (2022) Enhanced Performance of Natural Polymer Coagulants for Dye Removal from Wastewater: Coagulation Kinetics, and Mathematical Modelling Approach. Environ. Processes, 9(2), 20. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40710-022-00561-3
  28. Patra S, Das D, Singh M, Gupta S, (2024) Potato peel biochar: A sustainable material for the removal of pesticides and soil amendment for crop productivity. Annals of Plant Soil Res., 26(4), 578-584. https://doi.org/10.47815/apsr.2024.10403
  29. Qian W, Deng Y, Zhang Y, Li Y, Fang Y, Li X, Liang J, Liu H, (2024) Dyeing sludge-derived biochar for efficient removal of malachite green from dyeing wastewater. Water Emerging Contam. Nanoplast., 3(3). https://doi.org/10.20517/wecn.2024.25
  30. Reátegui-Romero W, Morales-Quevedo SE, Huanca-Colos KW, Figueroa-Gómez NM, King-Santos ME, Zaldivar-Alvarez WF, Flores-Del Pino LV, Yuli-Posadas RA, Bulege-Gutiérrez W, (2020) Effect of current density on cod removal efficiency for wastewater using the electrocoagulation process. Desalin. Water Treat., 184, 15–29. https://doi.org/10.5004/dwt.2020.25341
  31. Sayed A, Mostafa MG, (2024) Removal of Color from Textile Dyeing Effluents Using Coagulation-Flocculation Process Coupled with Adsorption on Nanoparticles Process. Jordan J. of Earth Environ. Sci., 15 (4), 287-297. https://jjees.hu.edu.jo/files/Vol15/No4/JJEES_Vol_15 _No_4_P8.pdf
  32. Sharma S, Sharma SK, Acharya S, Khandegar V, (2024) Feasibility and sludge analysis of electrocoagulation process for Direct Violet-35 dye remediation. Waste Manage. Bulletin, 2(2), 171–180. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wmb.2024.04.007
  33. Simbuluk RA, Niza NM, (2023) Feasibility and kinetic study of electrocoagulation with enhanced flocculation-flotation in removal of color from synthetic dye. Sci., Eng. & Health Stud., 17, 23040005. https://doi.org/10.69598/sehs.17.23040005
  34. Siyal AW, Gerbens-Leenes PW, Vaca-Jiménez SD, (2023) Freshwater competition among agricultural, industrial, and municipal sectors in a water-scarce country. Lessons of Pakistan’s fifty-year development of freshwater consumption for other water-scarce countries. Water Resour. Ind., 29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wri.2023.100206
  35. Thabede PM, Shooto ND, (2025) The removal of methyl orange from water using biochar derived from a blend of carrot and potato peels. Desalin. Water Treat., 324, 101584. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dwt.2025.101584
  36. Thombre N, Patil P, Yadav A, Patwardhan A, (2025) A short review on water management and reuse in textile industry – a sustainable approach. Discover Water, 5(1). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43832-025-00215-z.
  37. Wray HE, Andrews RC, (2014) Optimization of coagulant dose for biopolymer removal: Impact on ultrafiltration fouling and retention of organic micropollutants. J. Water Process Eng., 1, 74–83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jwpe.2014.03.007.
  38. Wu Z, Dong J, Yao Y, Yang Y, Wei F, (2021) Continuous flowing electrocoagulation reactor for efficient removal of azo dyes: Kinetic and isotherm studies of adsorption. Environ. Technol. Innovation, 22, 101448. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eti.2021.101448
  39. Yihunu EW, Minale M, Abebe S, Limin M, (2019) Preparation, characterization and cost analysis of activated biochar and hydrochar derived from agricultural waste: a comparative study. SN Appl. Sci., 1, 873. https://doi.org/10.1007/s42452-019-0936-z