This study investigates the feasibility of removing the chemical oxygen demand (COD) from a solution containing polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) by electrocoagulation. Several parameters-including the current density, supporting electrolyte, and temperature-were evaluated in terms of COD removal efficiency. The effects of these parameters on the electrical energy consumption were also investigated. The optimum current density, supporting electrolyte concentration, and temperature were found to be 5 mA/cm(2), 0.012 N NaCl, and 298 K, respectively. The experimental data were also tested against different adsorption isotherm models to describe the electrocoagulation process; the COD adsorption studied here best fit the Freundlich adsorption isotherm model. Thermodynamic parameters, including the Gibbs free energy, enthalpy, and entropy, indicated that the adsorption of COD on metal hydroxides was feasible, spontaneous, and endothermic in the temperature range of 288 K to 318 K.