Optimization of operation parameters in electrochemical methods for the removal of organic pollutants in sunflower oil refinery wastewater

• Two electrochemical methods, elecrocoagulation + electrooxidation and electroefenton, were compared in the degradation of soluble chemical oxygen demand and dissolved organic carbon in sunflower oil refinery wastewater
• A statistical model using stepwise regression was designed to optimize the parameters current density and time of operation
• The combined electrocoagulation and electrooxidation was chosen as the preferred method for the treatment of sunflower oil refinery wastewater.

Swati Sharma

Combined electrocoagulation (EC) + electrooxidation (EO) process was compared with electrochemical peroxidation (ECP) treatment process to treat sunflower oil refinery wastewater. The effect of applied current density, pH/H2O2 dosage, and operation time in the removal of COD, sCOD, TOC, and DOC were studied using Box Behnken Design. In EC process, decrease in organic concentration was observed as the time and current density increased. The optimized conditions for EC process were achieved at pH 6.07 when a current density of 5.69 mA cm-2 was applied for 18 minutes. The EO removed about 90% of DOC at an optimized pH of 5.27 and current density of 11.56 mA cm-2 when operated for 400 min. The combined EC+ EO process was successful in removing between 90-95% of organic pollutant from the sunflower oil refinery wastewater. The energy consumption was calculated to compare between the process efficiency of EC+EO and ECP. The reaction rate followed a first order kinetics validated with a high R2 Of more than 0.96.

5 years of experience in industrial, municipal and agricultural wastewater treatment using biological and electrochemical methods. Currently working as Wastewater Technical Expert in Water Engineering Inc. Swati has completed her PhD in environmental engineering from North Dakota State University.