Optimizing microplastic treatment in the effluent of biological nutrient removal processes using electrocoagulation: Taguchi experimental design

Sezer M., Topkaya E., Aksan S., Veli S., Arslan A.

JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, cilt.369, 2024 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 369
  • Basım Tarihi: 2024
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.122413
  • Dergi Adı: JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, International Bibliography of Social Sciences, PASCAL, Aerospace Database, Agricultural & Environmental Science Database, Aqualine, Aquatic Science & Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA), BIOSIS, CAB Abstracts, Communication Abstracts, Environment Index, Geobase, Greenfile, Index Islamicus, Metadex, Pollution Abstracts, Public Affairs Index, Veterinary Science Database, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Aluminum electrode, Domestic wastewater, Electrocoagulation, Microplastics, Taguchi experimental design
  • Kocaeli Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Microplastics (MPs) have become one of the most critical environmental pollution problems in recent years. Due to the growing abundance of MPs in aquatic environments, extensive research has been conducted and continues to be ongoing to develop effective treatment methods. In this study, the removal of MPs in the effluent of biological wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) was investigated by electrocoagulation (EC) process with aluminum electrodes. Using Taguchi design, the importance of process variables such as pH, current density, and reaction time were evaluated by Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Statistically, according to F and p values, the most effective parameter for microplastic (MP) removal was current density, followed by pH and reaction time. The R2 value of the created model was found to be above 98%. According to Taguchi results, the optimum process conditions were determined as pH 9, current density 1.905 mA/cm2, and reaction time 15 min and 99% MP removal efficiency was obtained. Under these optimum conditions, the process cost was calculated as 0.049 $/m3 wastewater, considering energy and electrode consumption. As a result of visual analyses, fiber, film, pellet, amorphous, and undefined forms were dominant in WWTP effluent, while only fiber structures were observed after treatment with EC. In this study, it was concluded that the EC process is an alternative treatment method that can be integrated into wastewater treatment plant effluent to achieve MP removal at very low cost and high efficiency. In addition, as a result of this study, it was observed that the EC process can also be used in MP removal by applying it to real wastewater.