Continuous Flow Electrocoagulation as a Hospital Wastewater Treatment

• Main Author: Yánes,Andres
• Publication Date: 2021
• Other Authors: Pinedo-Hernández,José, Marrugo-Negrete,José
• Format: Article
• Language: eng
• Source: Repositórios Científicos de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (RCAAP)
• Download full: http://scielo.pt/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0872-19042021000600403
• topic: electrocoagulation; hospital wastewater; response surface methodology

Abstract The technical feasibility of the continuous flow electrocoagulation process for hospital wastewater treatment was evaluated. The wastewater physicochemical characterization was performed according to the chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total suspended solids (TSS), naproxen, phenol and phosphates parameters. An experimental Box-Behnken design and statistical response surface methodology (RSM) were used to evaluate the simple and combined effects of the independent parameters (pH, potential, retention time), and to optimize electrocoagulation process conditions, considering the COD response variable. The removal percentage was: COD (75.5%), BOD (59.2%) phenols (80.7%), phosphates (85.3%), TSS (75.6%) and naproxen (55.7%), under optimal electrocoagulation conditions at pH (7.92), potential (40 V) and retention time (15 min). The electrocoagulation process proved to be an efficient and technically viable alternative for hospital wastewater treatment.