The Electrocoagulation Process removes contaminants by applying an electric current through the aqueous solution that forms flocs, which have the ability to adsorb certain ionic constituents. The electric current provides the driving force necessary to stabilize the solution, which causes the oil to separate from the emulsions, and some entities to become hydrophobic, causing them to separate or precipitate easily.

Contaminated water feed from the SAGD process is transferred to a cell stack operating in a bipolar mode. In this mode the cells are arranged in series and require a higher voltage across the cell stack to drive a given current through each cell, The feed is passed between two electrolyzed plates flowing up between the plates as the current passes through the solution perpendicular to the solution The positive side of the cell undergoes an oxidative reaction, while the negative side undergoes cathodic reactions. The electrodes release ions into the solution as the current passes through the cell and dissolve (also known as sacrificial electrodes). The ions released into the solution neutralize the charges of particles in solution and causes coagulation and precipitation or floatation of unwanted material in the solution. At the same time the charges are becoming destabilized, water is getting electrolyzed – generating some hydrogen and hydroxyl ions. The dissolving metals from the electrodes react with some of the stabilized ions to further destabilize them and cause them to precipitate.The treated solution, after passing through the cell stack, is directed to a filtering/clarification process to remove the sludge and froth. The treated solution is then transferred to the Evaporators for further treatment.

The treated solution, after passing through the cell stack, is directed to a filtering/clarification process to remove the sludge and froth. The treated solution is then transferred to the Evaporators for further treatment.