Efficient Oily Wastewater Treatment via Electrocoagulation: Process Optimization and Sludge Analysis

Oily wastewater treatment is crucial for protecting the environment and ensuring sustainable water use. The current study examines the effectiveness of electrocoagulation in treating oily wastewater by conducting several batch experiments designed to determine the best operating conditions. Various factors affecting the performance of electrocoagulation, such as applied current density, electrode type, and pH, were studied. The results indicate that, under ideal conditions, electrocoagulation worked very well. The best results were obtained by involving an applied current density of 6 mA/cm2, a mild steel anode, and a pH of 6.7. Under these conditions, the process removed 94% of the chemical oxygen demand (COD) from the oily wastewater. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDAX) were used to characterize the residual sludge left in the reactor. The characterization results show that the oily pollutants were successfully removed through electroflotation. Additionally, oil precipitate particles were easily coated during the electrocoagulation operation. The findings show that electrocoagulation is an effective method for treating oil-contaminated wastewater.