Assessment of tetra pack as an effective cathode in electrochemical process for real dye wastewater treatment

Abstract In electrochemical (EC) process, power required, and electrode material cost are considered major parameters. Herein, the waste tetra pack (TP) of the beverage industry, composed of a thin aluminum (Al) layer on paper and polyethylene, is used as electrodes in the EC process. Utilizing waste TP in this way can handle major challenges of waste management of TP and wastewater treatment. Three different electrode arrangements of carbon (C), Al, and TP as (anode: cathode) like Al:TP, C:TP, C:Al are explored in the separate batch EC operations for the real dye wastewater (RDW) treatment. The efficacy of RDW treatment has been examined in terms of % COD removal, with the highest COD removal during EC operation noted at solution pH 5, current density—5 mA/cm 2 , electrode gap—1 cm, NaCl—1 g/L, stirrer speed—100 RPM. Under optimum conditions, 95%–48%, 88%–31% and 92%–35% of COD removal have been noticed for Al:TP, C:TP, and C:Al electrode arrangements, respectively for an initial RDW organic load ranging from 500 to 5000 mg/L. With an increase in initial COD, the maximum amount of COD removal is noticed for an initial organic load of 4000 mg/L. Cost study signifies ~113.724, 83.945, 90.292 INR kg‐COD removed is needed for Al:TP, C:TP, and C: Al electrode arrangements. In addition, calorific study of sludge/scum signifies their calorific values of 3.18, 3.65, and 2.45 J/mg for Al:TP, C:TP, and C:Al electrode arrangements, respectively. In addition, the aluminum‐free paper generated as TP cathode could be used as fuel or fresh paper production.