Utilizing aluminum sheets with FeCu deposits as cheap water cleaning electrodes

Abstract

This work investigates the synthesis of Fe-Cu bimetallic alloy and its subsequent deposition on aluminum substrates for iron contaminants elemination in aqueous solutions. The sequential processes of synthesis (with grinding balls) and deposition (without balls) are carried out in a single ball mill resulting in a coating at room temperature. Detailed microstructural analysis revealed the successful deposition and a single-phase uniform coating of up to 500 nm layer thickness. Magnetic and electrical transport properties of the coating were studied. The coated aluminum electrodes, magnetized via an electromagnet, were eventually used in an aqueous solution containing Fe powder. The transmission of the solution was studied before and after the insertion of the electrodes and the tests revealed a significant increase in transmission from only 20% to around 40%. This is a promising result of an electrode that would normally behave as a paramagnet while being both cheap and recyclable.

Keywords

• Fe-Cu alloy
• Ferrous contaminant
• Ball milling
• High field measurement system