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Keywords

Petroleum effluent, total dissolved solids, Electrocoagulation process, Electrodes consumption, Finned cathode tube

Document Type

Research Paper

Abstract

This study aims to employ an electrocoagulation reactor to treat petroleum effluent from a local plant and reduce dissolved solids (TDS) to suitable levels for reuse. A continuous reactor configuration featured a finned stainless steel cathode tube positioned between two cylindrical aluminum anodes. This study explored the influence of treatment duration (4–60 minutes), current density (0–6.0 mA.cm-2), and influent rate (50–150 ml/min) on the final TDS value. Flow rate increase correlated with increased final TDS values, while longer electrolysis durations and higher current densities led to decreased TDS levels. Optimized electrolysis conditions at 1 hour, 5 mA.cm-2, and 50 ml/min, with inner and outer anode consumptions of 0.18 g and 0.45 g, respectively, achieved a final TDS of 2000.45 mg/l, representing a reduction of 207.55 mg/l. The regression model, with a p-value of 0.0001, F-value of 219.37, and R2 of 99.75%, demonstrated the significance of the model components, indicating its robustness. The energy consumption was 3.65 kWh/m3, and the total operating cost was only 0.74 $ per m3. This study confirms the efficacy of the novel continuous reactor in managing petroleum wastewater under practical conditions with low consumption values of electrodes and electrical energy.

References

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Highlights

Aluminum ions release from the anode faster than hydroxyl ions from the cathode. An innovative reactor from a local factory is used to reduce TDS in petroleum effluent. Box-Behnken Design and Minitab optimized experimental design, analysis, and variables. longer electrolysis durations and higher current densities led to decreased TDS levels.

DOI

10.30684/etj.2025.157123.1893

First Page

220

Last Page

233

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