Electrochemical advanced oxidation processes (EAOPs) as alternative treatment techniques for carwash wastewater reclamation

Abstract

Electrochemical advanced oxidation processes such as electrooxidation (EO), electrooxidation with hydrogen peroxide generation (EO-H2O2) and electro-Fenton process (EF) have been investigated as alternative treatment techniques for complete removal of anionic surfactants and organic matters from real carwash wastewater. The electrochemical processes were performed with acidified real carwash wastewater using boron doped anode and carbon felt cathode. In all cases, the chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency was always increased with rise in applied current and complete organic matter decay was achieved at applied current of 500 mA or above after 6 h of electrolysis. Faster and higher COD decay was observed with EF compared to either EO or EO-H2O2 treatment, at all currents and electrolysis time. Besides, complete degradation of anionic surfactants – the major organic content of the wastewater could be achieved at all applied currents studied irrespective of the process used, indicating the efficacy of processes for total remediation of real carwash wastewater. The short-chain carboxylic acids formed as the final organic byproducts were identified and quantified by ion-exclusion chromatography. More so, lower energy consumption and higher current efficiency were achieved with EF compared to EO-H2O2. Electrochemical treatment was found to be a powerful technology for the complete abatement of organic matter in carwash wastewater for possible reuse.