NICKEL AND CHROMIUM REMOVAL IN NICKEL MINE WASTEWATER BY ELECTROCOAGULATION METHOD

• Main Author: Milleniandi Al Qodar, Kurnia
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Subjects: Teknik saniter dan perkotaan; teknik perlindungan lingkungan
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/77675
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Nickel has become one of the most needed metals in recent years. Nickel mining in Indonesia is carried out using the open-cast mining method. The metal content in nickel mines is often easily carried by runoff and eventually reaches river bodies, such as chromium and nickel. Chromium is considered one of the most toxic heavy metals and is often found naturally or because of an industry. Meanwhile, nickel has carcinogenic properties in humans. Therefore, it is necessary to treat nickel mine wastewater to remove chromium and nickel. In this study, an experiment was conducted to treat nickel mine wastewater using a batch system electrocoagulation method with monopolar aluminium electrodes. This study was conducted to find the most optimal variation of contact time and current strength to remove nickel and chromium. The current strength settings were carried out at 2 A, 4 A, and 6 A, and the contact time used was 15 minutes, 30 minutes, and 45 minutes. Based on the experimental results, the optimum condition with the highest efficiency is a variation of 6 amperes with a contact time of 30 minutes. A removal efficiency of 97.81% was obtained for total chromium from an initial concentration of 11.4 mg/L to 0.25 mg/L and 80.17% for total nickel from an initial concentration of 17.4 mg/L to 3.45 mg/L.