RESUMO
Several conventional methods are employed to remove numerous pollutants from oily wastewater discharged from oil-field activities. The purpose of this study is to use a new design of an electrocoagulation reactor (ECR) to treat oily wastewater effluents from the Al-Muthanna petroleum plant to minimize a Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) to levels suitable for employment. In a continuous ECR, a One-Sided-Finned cathode tube (1SF) made of aluminum was inserted between a pair of aluminum-cylindrical anodes. The effects of the electrolysis period (4-60 min), current density (0.63-5.0 mA/cm2), and flow rate (50-150 ml/min) on Final TDS value were investigated. The increment of flow rate causes the final TDS value to be increased, while the extending of the electrolysis process and the raise in current density reduces it. The final TDS was 1842.54 mg/l (reduce by 307.46 mg/l) at optimum values of 1-h electrolysis, 5 mA/cm2 current density, and 50 ml/min flow rate, with an inner anode consumption of 0.13 g and an outer anode consumption of 0.43 g. Regression models with a p-value of 0.001 and F-value of 27.01 noted that the selected model components were important, and the estimated model is considered prominent. Furthermore, the regression coefficient (R2 = 97.99%) for the final TDS response revealed that the model fit the data well. This study confirmed the ability of the new electrocoagulation reactor to treat petroleum wastewater under significant conditions which overcomes the drawbacks of the conventional designs of electrocoagulation reactors.
RESUMO
In order to bring the chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentration down to safe levels for widespread use, this study plans to use a state-of-the-art electrocoagulation reactor (ECR) to treat real oily wastewater discharged from the Al-Muthanna petroleum refinery. A one-side finned (1SF) cathode tube was positioned between two tubular anodes in the continuous ECR, where the active area of the cathode was much more than its submerged volume. Each of these electrodes was made of aluminum and joined in a monopolar parallel to a DC power supply. On COD elimination efficiency, the impacts of operational parameters such as electrolysis time (4-60 min), current density (0.630-5.000 mA/cm2), and flow rate (50-150 ml/min) were explored. In conclusion, Increasing current density and electrolysis duration increases COD removal efficiency, whereas increasing flow rate reduces it. COD removal efficiencies were 82% at optimal electrolysis times of 60 (min), 5 (mA/cm2) current density, and 50 (ml/min) flow rate, with energy consumption of 4.787 (kWh/kg COD) and electrode consumption of 0.544 (g). The investigation results demonstrated that the new reactor could treat oily wastewater within the specified operational limits. It might be used before other, more conventional treatments.
