Abstract: An electrocoagulation system for removing contaminants from waste effluents comprising an electrocoagulation reactor (140) having charged and uncharged plates and allowing serial flow of water therethrough. The reactor (140) is connected to a voltage source (160) to charge some of the pates positive and negative plates. The system allows waste water to enter the reactor (140) for coagulation therein, the waster water leaving the reactor (140) to enter a defoam tank (200) for agitation which allows trapped bubbles to rise to the surface of the tank (200) as foam. From the defoam tank (200), waste water goes through a sludge thickener, to allow sludge to settle at the bottom thereof and waster water is drawn off from the sludge thickener to flow to a clarifier (250). The pump removes sludge forming at the bottom of clarifier (250) to take it back to the sludge thickener. The sludge is drawn out the bottom of the sludge thickener for transport to a press (280) where most of the water is removed therefrom.

Abstract: A process for the treatment of industrial waste water using electrocoagulation to effect separation of contaminants, which may include heavy metals, dyes, oils, fats, solvents, and salts. The process comprises passing waste water containing contaminants susceptible to electrocoagulation between pairs of electrodes within a reactor cell, energizing the electrodes with direct current, thereby breaking down and chemically altering contaminants in the electrolyzed water to form a sedimentable flocculate therein; and separating the flocculate from cleaned water. The invention also anticipates an apparatus for treating waste water which comprises: an electrocoagulation reactor cell having spaced-apart electrodes energized by direct current, a pump for passing industrial waste water through the reactor and between the electrodes, a de-foam tank, a mechanical clarifier, and a recessed-plate filter press.