title: Treatment of emulsified oils by electrocoagulation: pulsed voltage applications.
abstract: The effect of pulsed voltage application on energy consumption during electrocoagulation was investigated. Three voltage profiles having the same arithmetic average with respect to time were applied to the electrodes. The specific energy consumption for these profiles were evaluated and analyzed together with oil removal efficiencies. The effects of applied voltages, electrode materials, electrode configurations, and pH on oil removal efficiency were determined. Electrocoagulation experiments were performed by using synthetic and real wastewater samples. The pulsed voltages saved energy during the electrocoagulation process. In continuous operation, energy saving was as high as 48%. Aluminum electrodes used for the treatment of emulsified oils resulted in higher oil removal efficiencies in comparison with stainless steel and iron electrodes. When the electrodes gap was less than 1 cm, higher oil removal efficiencies were obtained. The highest oil removal efficiencies were 95% and 35% for the batch and continuous operating modes, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Engineering, Bulent Ecevit University, Zonguldak, Turkey E-mail: aytengenc@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Ayten
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Genc
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Engineering, Bulent Ecevit University, Zonguldak, Turkey E-mail: aytengenc@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Busra
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bakirci
mesh_terms: D004564:Electrocoagulation / Q000379:methods*; D004566:Electrodes; D004655:Emulsions; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009821:Oils / Q000737:chemistry*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D004655:Emulsions; D009821:Oils; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical