Removal of Real Vegetable Oil Industry Wastewater by Electrocoagulation and Electroflotation Methods

Turna T., YILDIZ Y. Ş.

Water and Environment Journal, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Basım Tarihi: 2026
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1111/wej.70058
  • Dergi Adı: Water and Environment Journal
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Compendex, EMBASE, Environment Index, Geobase, Greenfile, INSPEC
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: electrocoagulation, electroflotation, SS316 electrodes, vegetable oil industry wastewaters
  • Erciyes Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

This study investigated the applicability of environmentally friendly technologies for treating vegetable oil industry wastewater containing high concentrations of recalcitrant compounds. Stainless steel mesh electrodes (SS316) were used to enhance flotation efficiency. Electrocoagulation (EC) with an aluminium anode–SS316 cathode at 1.25 A/cm2 achieved COD and O&G removal efficiencies of up to 98.69% and 98.8%, respectively. Using an iron anode–SS316 cathode at 1.50 A/cm2, COD and O&G removals reached 96.5% and 94.2%. In the electroflotation (EF) process with SS316 electrodes at 1.8 A/cm2, COD and O&G removals were 83% and 88%. Furthermore, kinetic analyses revealed that COD and O&G removal followed a pseudo-second-order model, indicating that the process was mainly governed by surface interactions rather than chemical reactions. These findings demonstrate the efficiency and potential of EC and EF using SS316 electrodes for treating oily wastewater in an environmentally sustainable manner.