Electrocoagulation treatment of furniture industry wastewater

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) Vol. 328; p. 138500
• Main Authors: Vicente, Carolina, Silva, João R., Santos, Andreia D., Silva, João F., Mano, Jorge T., Castro, Luis M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2023
• Subjects: Alternating pulsed current; Electrocoagulation; Electrocoagulation - methods; Electrodes; Furniture industry; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Industrial Waste - analysis; Interior Design and Furnishings; Iron - chemistry; Iron quantification; Magnesium Oxide; Waste Disposal, Fluid - methods; Wastewater; Wastewater treatment; Water Pollutants, Chemical - chemistry; Furniture industry; Electrocoagulation; Alternating pulsed current; Iron quantification; Wastewater treatment
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138500

Electrocoagulation was investigated as a method for treating wastewater containing polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) from the furniture industry. The study evaluated the evolution of iron concentration and passivation during the treatment process. Laboratory-scale experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of inter-electrode distance (d), current density, and mode on treatment performance. Three values of d (0.3, 0.6, and 0.9 cm) were studied and found to have no significant effect on performance. However, lower d values resulted in reduced energy consumption due to a decrease in applied voltage. Three values of current density (132, 158, and 197 A m−2) were studied under two current modes, Direct Current (DC) and Alternating Pulsed Current (APC). The best treatment performance for DC occurred under 158 A m−2 (the treated wastewater was characterized by pH = 4.59 ± 0.02, conductivity = 996 ± 21 μS cm−1, COD = 1940 ± 55 mgO2 L−1, TSS = 105 ± 14 mg L−1, and Fe = 50.39 ± 1.87 mgFe L−1). For APC, the best performance was achieved under 197 A m−2 (the treated wastewater was characterized by pH = 6.33 ± 0.06, conductivity = 988 ± 17 μS cm−1, COD = 1942 ± 312 mgO2 L−1, TSS = 199 ± 55 mg L−1, and Fe = 44.68 ± 4.60 mgFe L−1). Despite the promising results, treatment performance was insufficient to meet the legal requirements for water discharge. APC was found to be a more economically viable approach, as it reduced anode wear, electrode passivation, and energy consumption. The quantity of iron released increased with d, and the effect of current density on iron concentration was found to be non-linear. However, applying APC reduced the iron content for all tested current densities. The tests showed that EC was effective in removing chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total suspended solids (TSS), achieving removal efficiencies above 92% and 99%, respectively. However, the studied treatment procedures were insufficient to meet the EU legal requirements for water discharge. Therefore, the obtained wastewater should undergo a post-treatment process. [Display omitted] •Lower inter-electrode distance (d) values reduced energy consumption and costs.•Higher d reduces the formation of a passivation layer on the cathode's surface.•COD reduction >92% and TSS reduction >99%.•Alternating pulse current (APC) decreases passivation and treatment costs.•Iron concentration increases with d and reduces with APC.