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Electrolysis, Electro-Coagulation and Electro-Oxidation

 

by Rami Elias Kremesti M.Sc., CSci, CEnv, CWEM

 

© 2025 Kremesti Environmental Consulting Ltd

Transmutare Substantiarum Basium In Aurum TM

 

Introduction:

Electro Coagulation (EC) and Electro Oxidation (EO) are an exciting branch of water treatment that fall under the Electro Chemistry branch of science where DC power interacts with water and its solutes. When I was in High School we learned about the electrolysis of water. Just attach two graphite electrodes to a DC power supply and insert in water. H2 is produced at the negative Cathode where H+ ions are reduced to Hydrogen gas, and this is verified with the pop test when a flame is applied to the gas. O2 or Chlorine gas is produced at the positive Anode where OH-/Cl- ions are oxidized or the anode dissolves into solution if you use a metal anode. Thus water is split to form H2 and O2 or you generate H2 and coagulant. To think that this is the same chemical reaction that is used on the ISS and in Nuclear Submarines for astronauts and submariners to breathe !!! Wow !!!

Something else interesting happens: if the electrode is not inert like Graphite or Titanium, iron/aluminium, Ferrous (or Al+3) ions are also released into the solution which turns a beautiful blue due to the formation of Fe(OH)2. These cations can be used as coagulants to purify water.

In high-school, we were crazy enough to the try this experiment with an exposed Copper wire and AC current too !! The reaction is very violent and the water turns into a turquoise blue due to the formation of Cu(OH)2.

CAUTION: Do not perform this experiment at home without a proper Risk Assessment and adult supervision.

 

History

The history of electro-chemistry makes for some very interesting reading. It all started with Alessandro Volta who invented the first DC battery called a pile back in the day in the 19th century. And yes the word and unit of measurement Volt is named after him.

Luigi Galvani’s frog experiment from the 18th century involved observing a dead frog’s leg twitch when it touched an iron railing with a brass hook, which he initially believed was proof of “animal electricity,” a life force within the body. He later realized, through further experiments, that the twitching was caused by a chemical reaction between the metals and the frog’s body fluids, acting as a type of primitive battery. This discovery, which showed that electricity could be produced through chemical interactions, was named galvanism by Alessandro Volta, who built on Galvani’s work to invent the first battery. The Galvanic cell is named after Luigi.

Michael Faraday, Sir Humphry Davy and Svante Arhenius later developed the amazing electro-Chemistry and some of the first pure metals were isolated and generated electro-chemically. There is a lot more to read about this topic which you can find in the References links down below.

It is interesting that Electro-Chemistry has a strong Italian history and this remains to this day with the emergence of global leaders in the field of electro-Chemistry like De Nora and Siemens Energy.

The earliest application of electrocoagulation for treating bilge water from ships was patented in 1906 by A. E. Dietrich.

Equations

Faraday’s law calculates the amount of substance oxidised or reduced as per the direct current in the electro-chemical cell as a function of time:

m = (M.I.t)/n.F

where m = mass in grams of substance liberated or deposited

M = molar mass in grams/mole

t = time in seconds

n = number of moles of electrons transferred per mole of substance in the balanced half-reaction (also called valence)

F = Faraday’s constant, approximately 96,485 Coulombs per mole of electrons (C/mol e⁻) 

Note that the fundamental formula linking amperes (A) and coulombs (C) is that one ampere is the flow of one coulomb of charge per second, expressed as A = C/s, or rearranged as

Charge (Q) = Current (I) × Time (t).

 

In a real electrochemical cell, the actual voltage (V) is the cell’s theoretical potential (E = EMF = Electro Motive Force) minus the voltage drop due to its internal resistance (r): V= E – (r x I )

V = R x I , Voltage = Resistance x Current

Heat dissipation known as Joule heating is calculated using the equation:

P = R x I^2 = V^2 / R

 

The electrical resistance of a salt solution is inversely proportional to the salt concentration and directly proportional to the distance between the electrodes.:

R = p x l / A or Resistance = Resistivity x distance / cross sectional path between electrodes

 

k = G x K cell

where k = conductivity in micro Siemens / cm

G = is the conductance of the solution, which is the reciprocal of resistance ( 1/R)

K cell = cell constant, a geometric factor determined by the distance L between the electrodes divided by their cross-sectional area.

Ohms (Ω) = 1 / Siemens 

or R = 1 / G       ….   (Resistance = inverse of Conductance in Siemens)

Conductivity of Pure Water

Conductivity of Pure Water Graphic

 

Conductivity of NaCl solutions vs Concentration

Conductivity of NaCl solutions vs Concentration

Applications

We all know that batteries generate DC power. What happens when we apply DC power to water with various chemistries, opens up a fascinating world of applied electro-chemistry. One of those large scale industrial applications is chrome/zinc plating or similarly extracting metals (electrowinning) from dissolved earth ores like Copper, Silver and Gold. Electro-Oxidation of PFAS is becoming more and more mainstream as the high tech electrodes are beginning to be produced at scale. Electro-chemical generation of Sodium Hypochlorite from Brine solutions is another widespread application used in disinfection. Some swimming pools are touted as being liquid chemical free. They use  brine and electricity instead. Companies like Arvia in the UK offer electro-oxidation of insecticides and pharmaceutical molecules.

Electro Coagulation is slowly maturing as a chemical-free process to dose coagulants in waste water by using sacrificial anodes. Electrolysis can be used to restore rusty items like guns or swords that are found in seawater too…

New applications such as chemical free dosing of Magnesium and OH- ions to precipitate Phosphate as bio-struvite in anaerobic digester centrates are constantly appearing.

Chlor-Alkali Process

DC current and electrodes are also used in the Chlor-Alkali process: a concentrated brine NaCl solution is electrolysed and H2/NaOH is produced this time on the Cathode and Cl2 gas at the anode. All three are useful industrial substances. We at KEC are promoting the application of the Chlor Alkali Process for sustainable chlorine production in water treatment plants. We call the process TroisEau.

 

Chlor_Alkali_Process

 

Figure 1: Chlor Alkali Process

 

A beautiful animation of the modern Chlor-Alkali process which uses PEM membranes:

 

Membrane cell process

It was an interesting finding for me to learn that the Chlor-Alkali process and electro-chlorination are one and the same thing except that in the Chlor-Alkali process a membrane separates the Cl2 generated on the Anode from the NaOH generated at the cathode where H+ is reduced to Hydrogen gas and is normally vented in the electro-chlorination process but normally collected in the Chlor-Alkali process and used to generate HCl for example.

INEOS is one of the leaders in the UK in the chlor-alkali process. They have a big manufacturing base in Runcorn, Cheshire where they use their own brine mines as raw material to generate Chlorine, NaOH and H2 for various industries in the UK.

 

How is Sodium preferentially reduced in the old Chlor-Alkali process rather than H+ to release H2 gas?

In the now largely phased-out mercury cell process, sodium was preferentially reduced. This was due to a different electrochemical principle. A flowing liquid mercury cathode was used which had a high overpotential for hydrogen production on a mercury surface and this meant that sodium ions were reduced to sodium metal instead of H⁺. The resulting sodium metal dissolved in the mercury to form an amalgam, which was then reacted with water in a separate chamber to produce very pure NaOH and H₂ gas.

In modern chlor-alkali plants, the use of mercury has been discontinued due to environmental concerns, and the membrane cell process, which produces hydrogen gas directly at the cathode, is the dominant technology. OH- is generated as a consequence.

There is a trick that can be used to sequester the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction or HER and favour metal deposition on the cathode: coat the cathode with a HER inhibitor.

Organic Inhibitors: These compounds typically contain heteroatoms (N, S, O) that allow them to adsorb onto the metal surface, forming a barrier layer. They can also alter the local environment at the electrode-electrolyte interface.

    • Benzotriazole (BTA): An effective organic inhibitor that forms a protective film on the steel surface, significantly reducing hydrogen permeation.
    • Cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC): Used as a current efficiency improver in commercial zinc electrowinning processes.
    • Polyethylene glycol (PEG): Can act as a multifunctional additive, adsorbing onto the metal surface (e.g., iron) to inhibit the HER and promote uniform deposition.
    • Isonicotinic acid (INA): Suppresses HER by forming strong interactions with protons and constructing a proton-blocking layer at the electrode interface.

The chemical structure of cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC | Download Scientific Diagram

Figure 2. Cetyl Peridinium Chloride chemical structure, also used for its antiseptic properties in Toothpastes because it is a quat ammonium salt. It also has applications as a corrosion and biofouling inhibitor in the petroleum extraction industry.

 

Electrochemical Production of Ozone

Electrochemical ozone production (EOP) generates ozone (O₃) by applying an electric current to water at a suitable anode, oxidizing water molecules to form ozone, which competes with oxygen (O₂) production. High anode overpotential for the oxygen evolution reaction and high current densities are used to favour ozone formation. Materials like boron-doped diamond BDD electrodes are used for their high stability and over-potential, enabling the efficient production of ozone directly in water without requiring external UV irradiation or corona discharge, making the process compact and advantageous for applications like water treatment. Companies like BES offer this technology which involves membranes.

Element 6 offer some of the best BDD electrodes in the market as they are part of the DeBeers diamond group:

https://www.e6.com/en/products/diamond-water-solutions

https://www.e6.com/en/about/news/element-six-launches-diamox-technology-for-the-ele

Some companies that offer Electrolytic Ozone Generators:

  • EnozoHOME : The EnozoHOME spray bottle, powered by Element Six’s BDD technology, creates aqueous ozone directly from tap water to act as a multi-purpose cleaner, sanitizer, and deodorizer.
  • Deposon Ozone Mister: This product uses a patented “BLUEAMEC” BDD-based technology to convert tap water into a fine ozone mist, achieving a 99.99% disinfection rate for commercial environments.
  • Mikrozon CONDIAS offers the MIKROZON® line of miniaturized ozone generators for integration into small systems, including spray bottles, demonstrating the availability of the core BDD component for consumer products.
  • BioSure Professional EOG:   BioSure uses a proprietary Electrolytic Ozone Generator (EOG) technology to produce highly concentrated ozonated water for various applications, which can be used in household and professional settings. ~

Green Hydrogen Production Using DC Electrolysis

Hydrogen produced using DC electrolysis is known as green hydrogen. Blue hydrogen is produced from natural Methane biogas with carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology, whereas electrolysis splits water into hydrogen and oxygen using electricity, which can be powered by renewable sources to produce carbon-free green hydrogen. There are two ways to produce Green hydrogen: PEM electrolysis and Alkaline Electrolysis.

PEM Electrolysis

Proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis of water occurs in a cell equipped with a solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) that is responsible for the conduction of protons, separation of product gases, and electrical insulation of the electrodes. The PEM electrolyser was introduced to overcome the issues of partial load, low current density, and low pressure operation currently plaguing the alkaline electrolyser. It involves a proton-exchange membrane. Perfluoro sulfonate polymer membranes (PFS), such as Nafion® and Fumasep, are used which act as proton conductors and separate the anode and cathode to ensure safety and efficiency.

Nafion membranes are designed to be cation-conducting solid electrolytes, making them an excellent choice for applications like fuel cells and batteries. They function by utilizing their sulfonic acid groups, which allow for selective transfer of cations through the membrane while providing excellent chemical stability.

 

PEM Electrolysis

Figure 3: PEM Electrolysis Schematic

Alkaline Electrolysis

Alkaline electrolysis produces hydrogen by passing a DC electric current through a water-based alkaline electrolyte (typically potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide), causing water molecules to split into hydrogen at the cathode and oxygen at the anode. This established, cost-effective technology uses nickel electrodes, a diaphragm to separate the gases, and an alkaline solution to enhance electrical conductivity, producing high-purity hydrogen for various industrial applications.

Potassium hydroxide (KOH) is not consumed in alkaline electrolysis; it acts as a catalyst and electrolyte to facilitate the electrolysis of water, and its ions (potassium and hydroxide) facilitate the flow of current. The KOH itself remains in solution, although its concentration may shift between the anode and cathode compartments during the process.

alkaline electrolysis of water

Figure 4: Alkaline electrolysis of water to produce hydrogen

Comparison

Alkaline electrolysis has a lower capital expenditure (CAPEX) and overall cost at scale for large industrial applications, while PEM electrolysis is more expensive upfront but offers higher efficiency and lower operating costs (OPEX) for smaller, modular systems and renewable energy integration. Alkaline systems are mature and cost-effective for stable power sources, whereas PEM excels in flexibility and faster response times with variable electrical inputs, despite higher initial material costs.

What To Do With the O2?

Green hydrogen producers often vent the co-produced oxygen to the atmosphere because transporting and storing it is can be expensive and difficult, especially when compared to the value of the hydrogen. However, when feasible, they may sell the oxygen to industrial users for applications like welding, metallurgy, glass manufacturing, wastewater treatment, or as a source of medical-grade oxygen. Oxygen can also be used for on-site processes, such as in oxy-fuel combustion for power generation or for steel production, to integrate with other industrial operations.

Applications of Electro-Coagulation:

Electro-Coagulation is a liquid chemical free way to dose Ferrous/Ferric/Al+3 cations into a polluted water stream to effect coagulation/flocculation to remove Suspended Solids, colloidal oil, Phosphate and Heavy Metals. It has also been used to neutralize mining acidic waste waters by using Magnesium anodes that dissolve and form MgOH2 in solution. Some papers allege that electro-coagulation can also remove hardness ions, silica and fluorides. It could be a new pre-treatment method for Reverse Osmosis systems. Another potential application is in treating anaerobic sludge which might benefit from the inherent Hydrogen dosing.

 

A nice schematic of the electro-coagulation process is depicted below:

 

Electro Coagulation Schematic

Figure 5: Electro Coagulation Schematic

 

The ferrous and aluminium ions produced at the Anode are coagulants and they help to remove suspended solids/colloids from water as well as break emulsions. The hydrogen produced in the form of fine bubbles at the Cathode lifts some of the suspended solids in the water to the surface of the water in a process similar to DAF = Dissolved Air Flotation or in this case Electro-Floatation.

EC can also be used in produced water treatment in the petroleum extraction industry:

 

https://powellwater.com/electrocoagulation-vs-chemical-coagulation-ec-vs-lime-softening/

 

Advantages of Electro-Coagulation:

The advantages of electro coagulation are that it is a form of production of a coagulant without using chemicals. It also has another very important advantage: chemical coagulants such as FeCl3 and Al2(SO4)3 add chloride or sulphate ions to the water which increase the TDS and at the same time they make the water more corrosive to steel. This advantage also results in electro-coagulation producing less sludge that traditional coagulation. Additionally, because chemical FeCl3 hydrolyses water and produces acidic H+ ions, the alkalinity of the water is affected and the pH decreases after the coagulation step.

With Electro-Coagulation, the pH increases a little bit since H+ is reduced, OH- is released and this helps to precipitate heavy metals in the water for example in the case of treating Mine Waste water.

Another interesting aspect of electro-coagulation with Iron electrodes is that the ferrous ions produced can be used to catalyse the famous Fenton’s Reagent where H2O2 hydrogen peroxide is added to the water. This can help oxidise COD in the water. It is one of the oldest chemical forms of AOP = Advanced Oxidation Processes. This process is sometimes called Peroxi-Coagulation.

Sludge produced by Electro-Coagulation has less water in it so this technology saves on sludge disposal costs. According to Powell Water, electrocoagulation can produce an environmentally friendly sludge in the 6 to 7 pH range. The metals in the sludge at this pH range are stabilized in a non hazardous form as Oxides, that will pass the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Toxic Classification Leaching Procedure (TCLP), and California Title 22 STLC & TTLC leach tests.

EC has some special properties owing to its mechanism of action: electrons are in touch with the solution at the cathode therefore a phenomenon called Electro-flooding occurs which can kill bacteria. EC is one of the few technologies that can also reduce silica in feedwaters to RO systems.

This is an interesting page from Powell Water on the advantages of EC:

Electrocoagulation: An Overview

 

There is a beautiful video on the David H Paul website which explores the use of EC as a pre-treatment step for RO systems:

 

Other Types of Electrolysis: Electro-Oxidation

Using electrodes such as Boron Doped Diamond (BDD) results in more fascinating electro-chemistry: Since the electrode is inert and does not dissolve, Hydroxyl .OH radicals can form which are excellent at oxidizing organic pollutants.

Certain types of electrolysers are designed to generate Oxygen for breathing applications. Treadwell Corporation is one of those companies.

MMO = Mixed Metal Oxide electrodes are also very interesting and used in electro-Chlorination. They preferentially oxidise Chloride ions to form Chlorine/Hypochlorite.

The Achilles heal of these processes are the high cost of the electrodes. I personally worked at a sea-facing power station in North Africa called Centrale Electrique De Terga where the heat exchanger of the condenser was disinfected using Hypo-Chlorite generated using sea water and DC current.

Another weakness is that Ozone is indiscriminate and will attack all organics in water therefore the Ozone demand can be high.

 

Experience with Electro-Coagulation

Treatment of wastewater and wash water by EC has been practised for most of the 20th century with increasing popularity. The first patented application of EC was in Bilge Water Treatment.

In the last decade, this technology has been increasingly used in the United States, South America and Europe for treatment of industrial wastewater containing metals and high COD. It has also been noted that in North America EC has been used primarily to treat wastewater from pulp and paper industries, mining and metal-processing industries. A large one-thousand gallon per minute cooling tower application in El Paso, Texas illustrates electro-coagulation’s growing recognition and acceptance to the industrial community. In addition, EC has been applied to treat water containing foodstuff waste, oil wastes, dyes, output from public transit and marinas, wash water, ink, suspended particles, chemical and mechanical polishing waste, organic matter from landfill leachates, defluorination of water, synthetic detergent effluents, and solutions containing heavy metals. Electrocoagulation is not typically used for domestic wastewater treatment, although some suppliers like Fuji-Clean are using electrodes to remove residual phosphorus.

 

The Achilles Heal of Electro-Coagulation

Electro-Coagulation suffers from some serious drawbacks that need to be addressed before venturing into applying this technology on an industrial scale. Among these I list the following:

  1. The electrodes foul and get oxidised at which point the resistivity increases and the current and thus efficiency decrease. This can also lead to fluctuations in dosage rate.
  2. The efficiency of the process (Faradaic Efficiency)  is dependant on high conductivity. In the absence of high TDS, the power consumption becomes prohibitive and this sometimes necessitates salt dosing. Water without minerals has a high resistance and energy is lost as heat. Simply put, the resistance of the solution increases and more power is lost to heating.
  3. High cost of some over engineered reactors.
  4. Sometimes chemicals are still needed for removal of oxides on the fouled electrodes. Chemical cleans are sometimes part and parcel of maintenance. So the claim that it is chemically free becomes dubious.
  5. The process inherently produces Hydrogen which makes the ORP of the reactor positive. Ferrous is predominantly produced which does not produce good flocs. This sometimes necessitates an aeration or oxidation step which increases the cost of the process.
  6. Production of coagulant as Ferrous leads to carry over in the effluent which can be an issue for pre-treatment of systems like RO or can impact the regulatory permit for discharge to sensitive aquatic environments.
  7. High cost of electricity.

 

Parameters to Control

In Electro-Chemistry there are many parameters to control. To start with, we are working with electrodes to which a DC Voltage or Potential Difference is applied. The solution has a specific resistivity based on the chemistry and distance between the electrodes, and the V = R.I equation applies known as Ohm’s Law.  The materials from which the electrodes are made is a very important factor that determines which reaction takes precedence for example liberation of O2 or Cl2. Faraday’s Law (See equation below) applies which equates the quantity of charge (amperes) with the chemical reactions occurring. Finally there is the complex chemistry of the solution where various reactions compete thermodynamically and kinetically. Remember your electro negativity series from high school?

Electronegativity of Select Elements (Pauling Scale)

Fluorine     F    3.98
Oxygen      O    3.44
Chlorine    Cl   3.16
Hydrogen  H   2.2
Sodium      Na  0.93

From a process point of view, chemical dosage is important which depends on the current density which is current per surface area.

The pH of the solution is sometimes a factor to take into consideration too.

Conductivity is important as electro-coagulation is challenging under low conductivity conditions because the resistance becomes too high.

Faraday's Law

Faraday’s Law Which Can Calculate How Much Ferric/Aluminium Can Be produced using a specific amount of current.

Note also that applying a voltage on the cathode and anode creates an electric field between them measures in V/m – volt per meter. In Pulse Electric Field, PEF processes, high Kilo-Volt electric fields are applied to foods or water and this causes irreversible electroporation in cells which kills them.

Companies that Specialize in Electro-Coagulation and Electro-Chemistry

De Nora is one of the giants when it comes to Electrolytic production of Hypochlorite, they are one of the pioneers of that process. I once worked on a power station in Algeria that was built by ALSTOM and they disinfected their sea water condenser heat exchanger with Sodium Hypochlorite generated from sea water. The system was a De Nora system that vented the Hydrogen into the air. I still remember that the electrodes can form a crust and they need occasional acid cleaning.

One other company that specializes in electro oxidation is Arvia in the UK. They focus on trace pharmaceuticals and pesticides.

Another company that specializes in Electro-Coagulation is Power and Water. This company manages the fouling issue of anodes with Sonication or ultra sound acoustics to create cavitation. Although Physical sonication has its limitations when it comes to removal of oxide films of Fe and Al.

Morselt from the Netherlands have an Electro-coagulation system called the RedBox.

The big water treatment companies such as Veolia and Nijhuis also have electro-coagulation systems.

Both Nijhuis and OVIVO have Electro-AOP systems too.

Lummus is also one major player when it comes to Electro-Oxidation and they build on their expertise with the ZimPro process.

WSP has commercialized a PFAS electro-oxidation technology too.

Aclarity is another one.

The Chinese are catching up on this technology with companies such as Boromond. They are trying to produce MMO and BDD electrodes cheaply.

VentilAqua is a very interesting company from Portugal that specialises in EC and EO.

Powell Water from Colorado USA is a very interesting company to watch in the area of Electro-Coagulation. They claim to be specialists in large flow EC systems up to 500 m3/hr.

 

Manufacturers of Specialty BDD Electrodes

Several companies in Europe manufacture boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes. Key players include CONDIAS GmbH in Germany, Neocoat SA in Switzerland, Pro Aqua Diamantelektroden Produktion GmbH in Austria, and De Nora Ltd in Italy. These companies offer a range of BDD electrodes tailored for various applications, including industrial water treatment, electrochemical processes, disinfection and biomedical devices. DeBeers Element 6 is a highly specialized company in this sphere too because of their background in the diamond business. INEOS make their own electrodes as they have a long history in the Chlor-Alkali industry.

 

Manufacturers of Mixed Metal Oxide MMO Electrodes in Europe

De Nora (Italy): A major global supplier with a significant European presence, De Nora was the first company to commercialize MMO-coated electrodes. It manufactures electrodes under the DSA (Dimensionally Stable Anodes) brand for various electrochemical applications.

Permascand (Sweden): This company is a leading provider of dimensionally stable anodes (DSA), including MMO-coated electrodes and electrolyzers. They have over 50 years of experience serving various electrochemical industries. Aquired by Chinese Magneto.

Jennings Anodes UK Limited (UK): A manufacturer that provides a range of MMO-coated titanium anodes, including rods, wires, and meshes, for impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP) and other applications.

METAKEM GmbH (Germany): Specializes in electrochemistry and precious metal chemistry, providing mixed metal oxide anodes for various industrial applications.

Insoluble Anode Technology B.V. (Netherlands): A manufacturer of both MMO and platinum-coated titanium anodes, located in the Netherlands.

 

 

Market Size of Electro-Coagulation and Electro-Oxidation Technology

The global electro-coagulation market is experiencing significant growth, driven by stricter environmental regulations, the demand for effective wastewater treatment, and technological advancements. While market size and CAGR vary by report, recent data suggests the market was valued at approximately USD 0.56 to 2.3 billion in 2024-2025 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.8% to 10.5% between 2025 and 2033, reaching USD 1.12 to 7.8 billion.

The global electro-oxidation market is poised for robust growth, with projected sizes ranging from USD 1.6 billion in 2025 to USD 2.1 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of approximately 6% according to some reports, while others forecast an even faster growth to USD 2.5 billion by 2033 with a CAGR of 9.2%. This expansion is driven by the increasing demand for sustainable, chemical-free water and wastewater treatment, regulatory compliance, energy efficiency, and innovations in electrochemical processes, particularly for challenging contaminants like PFAS chemicals.

 

Conclusion

Electro Chemistry, Electro Coagulation and Electro Oxidation are fascinating areas of water treatment. However, once must look at and understand the basics of the chemistry and physics of the processes and understand their strengths and weaknesses before embarking on embracing the technology. As the technology matures, the commercial cost of implementing it will go down and we may see a more widespread implementation of this new Clean Tech.

 

References

 

https://www.kwrwater.nl/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/TKI-Electrocoagulation-report_FINAL-.pdf

 

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-023-42831-6

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrocoagulation

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrochemistry

 

https://www.wsp.com/en-gb/insights/electro-oxidation-proven-commercial-solution-for-destroying-pfas-in-liquid

 

https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2025/ey/d4ey00204k#:~:text=19%2C20%20The%20use%20of,technology%20has%20been%20widely%20studied.

https://kremesti.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/A-review-on-industrial-wastewater-treatment-via-EC.pdf

 

https://kremesti.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Electrocoagulation-as-a-revived-wastewater-treatment-method‐practical.pdf

About the Author:

 

Rami Elias Kremesti is a chartered British water treatment expert residing in the UK. He earned his M.Sc. in Industrial Chemistry from the USA. Rami worked 10 years on power stations worldwide as a chemistry and water specialist and he has experience in industrial waste water treatment, sewage treatment, Reverse Osmosis, Cooling Tower chemistry, potable water treatment and is passionate about mitigating climate change using chemistry. He enjoys spending time with this daughters, cooking, playing guitar and spending time in nature. He has authored three books in practical philosophy: The Other Cheek of Islam, For Love of The Sacred Awe and MegaloPsychia.

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Rami Kremesti Portrait

Rami Elias Kremesti Portrait