Efficient simultaneous removal of nickel, phosphorus and COD from electroless nickel plating wastewater by three dimensional electrodialytic system

The simultaneous removal of nickel (Ni), phosphorus (P) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) from electroless Ni plating (ENP) wastewater by a three-dimensional electrodialysis (3D ED) system with graphite as the third electrode was investigated in this study. Compared to conventional two-dimensional electrodialysis (2D ED) system a significantly higher removal efficiency of complexed Ni, P and COD was achieved. The optimal process conditions were determined as dilution factor of 20, voltage of 20 V, treatment time of 10 h and particle electrode addition of 3 %, with removal rates of 95.8 %, 97.7 %, and 91.8 % for Ni²⁺, total phosphorus (TP) and COD, respectively. The decomplexed Ni²⁺ was recovered in the form of Ni(OH)₂. Additionally, the mechanisms of enhanced ENP wastewater treatment was discussed and analyzed through SEM-EDS and XPS on solid and liquid products prior to and after treatment. This study provides crucial theoretical and practical support for the application of electrochemical technology in the treatment of ENP wastewater. It also offers new insights for achieving resource-efficient wastewater treatment and environmentally friendly electroplating industries.