TSS, Cu, and Hg removal with electrocoagulation method for gold mine wastewater

Gold mine wastewater has several sources, among them from gold washing activity. Gold washing wastewater has high turbidity, TSS, and heavy metal content. These conditions were not safe to be directly disposed to the environment. Wastewater treatment used Electrocoagulation (EC) with a batch method. The study aims to determine the optimum condition of EC treatment to remove TSS-Hg-Cu in the wastewater. This research was a laboratory study with variations in DC current-voltages (6 volts, 9 volts, and 12 volts) and detention times (15 minutes, 30 minutes and 45 minutes). Data analysis was performed by calculating the removal efficiency of TSS, Cu, and Hg parameters. The experimental results obtained EC removal efficiency on TSS, Cu, and Hg parameters are high, ranging from 68.6 to 99.97%. The optimum conditions for processing EC at 9 volts during detention time in 30 minutes. That optimum condition was able to reduce 98.7 % TSS,74.6 % Cu, and 100% Hg. The processed waste could be reused because has met the standard water quality standards for industrial activities.