title: Continuous electrocoagulation of cheese whey wastewater: an application of Response Surface Methodology.
abstract: In this study, treatment of cheese whey wastewater was performed using a uniquely-designed continuous electrocoagulation reactor, not previously encountered in the literature. An iron horizontal rotating screw type anode was used in the continuous mode. An empirical model, in terms of effective operational factors, such as current density (40, 50, 60 mA/cm(2)), pH (3, 5, 7) and retention time (20, 40, 60 min), was developed through Response Surface Methodology. An optimal region characterized by low values of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) was determined. As a result of experiments, a linear effect in the removal efficiency of COD was obtained for current density and retention time, while the initial pH of the wastewater was found to have a quadratic effect in the removal efficiency of COD. The best fit nonlinear mathematical model, with a coefficient of determination value (R(2)) of 85%, was defined. An initial COD concentration of 15.500 mg/L was reduced to 2112 mg/L with a removal efficiency of 86.4%. In conclusion, it can be said that electrocoagulation was successfully applied for the treatment of cheese whey wastewater.
authors.affiliation: Anadolu University, Department of Environmental Engineering, Eskisehir 26555, Turkey. Electronic address: utezcan@anadolu.edu.tr.
authors.forename: Umran
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Tezcan Un
authors.affiliation: Anadolu University, Department of Environmental Engineering, Eskisehir 26555, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ayse
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kandemir
authors.affiliation: Anadolu University, Department of Industrial Engineering, Eskisehir 26555, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nihal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Erginel
authors.affiliation: Anadolu University, Department of Chemical Engineering, Eskisehir 26555, Turkey.
authors.forename: S Eren
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Ocal
mesh_terms: D002611:Cheese; D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008894:Milk Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D008894:Milk Proteins; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Electrocoagulation; Iron electrode; Response Surface Methodology; Whey wastewater