Metal Removal from Effluents by Electrowinning and a new Design Concept in Wastewater Purification Technology

V. Stanković

Abstract
In recent years there has been an increased interest in finding new and innovative solutions for efficient metal removal from effluents. Electrowinning has particularly been considered as a way for efficient solution of the water and soil pollution problems. Electrochemical cells, designed to operate with effluents at low concentrations, require special provisions for enhancement of mass transport to the electrode surface. Different concepts for doing this are critically reviewed. The various types of cells are described and compared and some advantages and disadvantages are discussed. Particular attention has been paid to those effluents not suitable to be treated by the electrowinning method. Pertraction as an emerging technology, suitable for separating and concentrating heavy metal ions from very dilute solutions is described and considered as a way to be coupled with electrowinning for heavy metal removal. The proposed process offers many advantages over the existing technologies for cleaning wastewater from heavy metals. A comprehensive literature survey of the electrochemical reactors as well as of supported liquid membrane technique is also given.

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Keywords
Electrowinning, electrochemical cell, three-dimensional electrode, effluent treatment, pertraction, heavy metals