Electrocoagulation of wastewater from almond industry

This work was carried out to study the treatment of almond industry wastewater by the electrocoagulation process. First of all, laboratory scale experiments were conducted in order to determine the effects of relevant wastewater characteristics such as conductivity and pH, as well as the process variables such as anode material, current density and operating time on the removal efficiencies of the total organic carbon (TOC) and the most representative analytical parameters. Next, the wastewater treatment process was scaled up to pre-industrial size using the best experimental conditions and parameters obtained at laboratory scale. Finally, economic parameters such as chemicals, energy consumption and sludge generation have been discussed.

► We applied electrocoagulation to real wastewater from an almond industry.
► Best conditions for treatment were determined and scaled to pre-industrial.
► Results were scaled to a pre-industrial plant.
► Electrocagulation at pre-industrial scale is an effective technology for this water.
► Economic parameters and costs were calculated.