Modeling the hydrodynamic of an electroflotation column for the treatment of industrial wastewaters

In this work, the hydrodynamic study of oxygen and hydrogen bubbles flow generated in an electroflotation column working in batch and continuous mode was performed. The method of video recording and image processing was used to determine the diameter and the rise velocity of bubbles and also the gas retention. The effect of current density applied at the electrodes of the electroflotation column, the liquid phase physicochemical parameters, and the variation of the liquid phase flow has been studied. The overall results were modeled in order to describe the bubble flow regime. These models have been implemented in a code programmed in Visual Basic and allowed the development of an executable application. This application was then used successfully in order to determine the optimum operating conditions for treating industrial wastewaters by electroflotation process.