Optimization of energy costs in the pretreatment of olive mill wastewaters by electrocoagulation

Creative Commons License

Coskun T., İlhan F., Manav Demir N., Debik E., Kurt U.

ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY, vol.33, pp.801-807, 2012 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 33
  • Publication Date: 2012
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/09593330.2011.595829
  • Journal Name: ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.801-807
  • Keywords: chemical oxygen demand removal, electrocoagulation, modelling, olive mill wastewaters, pretreatment, WASTE-WATER TREATMENT, ELECTROCHEMICAL TREATMENT, PHENOLIC-COMPOUNDS, REMOVAL, OXIDATION, FENTON, DETOXIFICATION, EFFLUENT, INDUSTRY, COD
  • Yıldız Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

In this study, the electrocoagulation process was evaluated as a pretreatment process for olive mill wastewaters. Aluminium (Al) and iron (Fe) electrodes, several contact times and 0.5, 1 and 2 A currents were used to compare chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiencies for each case. The optimum contact time and current were 45 minutes and 1 A, respectively, which resulted in a COD removal of 58.7% with an Al electrode. Experimental data from distinct operational conditions were used to fit a model for COD removal efficiencies. Energy consumption was also predicted. Under optimum operational conditions, the treatment cost was approximately (sic)0.13 kg(-1) CODremoved and (sic)4.41 m(-3). The results showed that the electrocoagulation process was a cost-effective method for the pretreatment of olive mill wastewaters.