Treatment of Sugar Industry Wastewater by Electrocoagulation (Ec) Method and Adsorption for Ec Treated Effluent

Abstract

The effluent discharged from Argo-based industries including the sugar industry are characterized with high COD. Untreated wastewater discharge has a negative impact on environment. The main objective of this research work is to characterize the physiochemical parameters of sugar industry wastewater and to carry out Electrocoagulation treatment using Aluminum and Iron electrodes, the investigation on COD reduction was made by varying voltages, and also conducted EC treatment followed with adsorption process. The initial characterization of wastewater from the sugar mill had an acidic range of 4.9 -5.1, with a COD/BOD ratio over 4.5. COD and BOD concentration range are 8832 mg/L and 1962 mg/L respectively. The maximum COD removal efficiency of 81.9 % was obtained for an optimum voltage of 10 V at electrode gap of 2 cm with iron electrode (Fe-Fe) and 75.89% for aluminum (Al-Al) electrodes with a minimum energy consumption of 0.024 kWh/L and 0.03 kWh/L. For the sequential treatment of EC followed by adsorption, COD removal efficiency was found to be 97.18 % for 0.4 g of Granular activated carbon and 95.28 % for 0.6 g of Bentonite.