Journal of Water and Wastewater Science and Engineering

Journal of Water and Wastewater Science and Engineering

Investigation of Organic Matter Removal by Electrocoagulation Process in Dairy Industry (Case Study: Mehr Ice Cream Company, Isfahan)

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Elham Izadinia 1
Ali Nasri 2
1 Assistant Professor, Civil Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Shahid Ashrafi Esfahani University, Isfahan, Iran.
2 MSc Graduate, Water and Hydraulic Structures Engineering, Shahid Ashrafi Esfahani University, Isfahan, Iran.
10.22112/jwwse.2025.518464.1453
Abstract
Dairy industries are high consumers of water, most of which is discharged as wastewater. This study was conducted by constructing a pilot system and performing a laboratory-scale investigation on the removal of organic matter based on carbon in ice cream manufacturing industries over one month using the electrocoagulation process. The reference samples tested were taken from the effluent of the equalization unit of the Mehr ice cream factory located in the Isfahan Jay Industrial Town. In this research, the variables COD, TSS, and BOD concentrations were respectively 8700, 2900, and 6200 mg/L at reaction times of 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes and pH values of 3, 5, 7, and 9 with current intensities of 0.75, 1.5, 2.25, and 3 amperes. These were evaluated in four electrode arrangements: iron, aluminum, iron and aluminum with equal ratios, and iron to aluminum in a 1:2 ratio as the anode electrode. The results showed that the highest removal efficiencies for COD, BOD, and TSS were at pH 3, with a reaction time of 60 minutes, using a combined iron and aluminum electrode with equal numbers, and a current intensity of 2.25 amperes, achieving removal rates of 89.3%, 95.1%, and 82.5%, respectively.
Keywords
Chemical Oxidation
Dairy Industry
Electrocoagulation Process
Wastewater Treatment
پورمحمود، م.، حسینی‎شکیب، م.، و خمسه، ع.، (1401)، "فناوری‎های هوشمند و نوآوری سبز در صنعت تصفیه فاضلاب: نقش میانجی پایداری شرکت و استراتژی‎های پایداری"، علوم و مهندسی آب و فاضلاب، 7(4)، 60-74، https://doi.org/ 10.22112/jwwse.2022.289711.1277.
رضایی، م. (1401)، "بحران آب: دوراهی اجتماعی"، علوم و مهندسی آب و فاضلاب، 7(4)، 4-16، https://doi.org/10.22112/jwwse.2022.330611.1311.
رئوف، ر.، و ضمیر، س. م.، (1404)، "ارزیابی عملکرد یک پیل نمک‌زدای میکروبی با کاتد زیستی برای نمک‌زدایی از آب شور"، علوم و مهندسی آب و فاضلاب، 10(1)، 41-48، https://doi.org/10.22112/jwwse.2024.469397.1410.
کریمی، س.، رمضانی اعتدالی، ه.، و ستوده‌نیا، عباس.، (1401)، "بررسی حذف آرسنیک از آب آشامیدنی با استفاده از ماده منعقدکننده کلرورفریک"، علوم و مهندسی آب و فاضلاب، 7(1)، 55-61، https://doi.org/10.22112/jwwse.2021.284006.1271.
Ankoliyam, D., Mudgal, A., Sinha, M.K., Patel, V., and Patel, J., (2023), "Application of electrocoagulation process for the treatment of dairy wastewater: A mini review", Materials Research Proceedings, 77(1), 117-124, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2022.10.254.
Asaithambi, P., Yesuf, M.B., Govindarajan, R., Selvakumar, P., Niju, S., Pandiyarajan, T., Abudukeremu Kadier, D., Nguyen, D., and Alemayehu, S., (2023), "Industrial wastewater treatment using batch recirculation electrocoagulation (BRE) process: Studies on operating parameters", Sustainable Chemistry for the Environment, 2, 100014, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scenv.2023.100014.
Ates, H., Ozay, Y., and Dizge, N., (2017), "Treatment of dairy industry cleaning-in-place wastewater by electrocoagulation supported with immersed membrane process", CLEAN Soil Air Water, 45(11), 1-9, https://doi.org/10.1002/clen.201600654.
Bazrafshan, E., Moein, H., Kord Mostafapour, F., and Nakhaie, Sh., (2013), "Application of electrocoagulation process for dairy wastewater treatment", Journal of Chemistry, Hindawi Puplishing Corporation, 640139, 1-8, https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/640139.
Benazzi, T.L., Luccio, M.D., Dallago, R.M., Steffens, J., Mores, R., Nascimento, M.S., Krebs, J., and Ceni. G., (2016), "Continuous flow electrocoagulation in the treatment of wastewater from dairy industries", Water Science and Technology, 73(6), 1418-1425, https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2015.620.
Boinpally, S., Kolla, A., Kainthola, J., Kodali, R., and Vemuri, J., (2023), "A state-of-the-art review of the electrocoagulation technology for wastewater treatment", Water Cycle, 4, 26-36, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watcyc.2023.01.001.
Faraj, H., Jamrah, A., Al-Omari, S., and Al-Zghoul, T.M., (2024), "Optimization of an electrocoagulation-assisted adsorption treatment system for dairy wastewater", Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering, 9, 100574, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscee.2023.100574.
Geraldino, H.C.L., Simionato, J.I., Souza Freitas, T.K.F., Garcia, J.C., Júnior, O.C., and Correr, C.J., (2015), "Efficiency and operating cost of electrocoagulation system applied to the treatment of dairy industry wastewater", Acta Scientiarum Technology, 37(3), 401-408, https://doi.org/10.4025/actascitechnol.v37i3.26452.
Gerson D.F., Valente, S., Mendonca, R.C.S., and Felix, L.B., (2020), "Electrocoagulation using zinc electrodes for dairy industry wastewater treatment", Desalination and Water Treatment, 206, 58-65, https://doi.org/10.5004/dwt.2020.26294.
Ghazouani, M., Akrout, H., Jellali, S., and Bousselmi, L., (2019a), "Comparative study of electrochemical hybrid systems for the treatment of real wastewaters from agri-food activities", Science of The Total Environment, 647(10), 1651-1664, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.08.023.
Melchiors, M.S., Piovesan. M., Becegato, V.R., Becegato, V.A., Tambourgi, E.B., and Paulino, A.T., (2016), "Treatment of wastewater from the dairy industry using electroflocculation and solid whey recovery", Journal of Environmental Management, 182(1), 574-580, https://doi,org10.1016/j.jenvman.2016.08.022.
Nazari, R., Eslamian, S., and Khanbilvardi, R., (2012), "Water reuse and sustainability", Ecological Water Quality–Water Treatment and Reuse, 241-254, https://doi.org/10.5772/34428. 
Rahul Krishna, B., Bhuvaneshwari, S., Majeed, F., and Aravind, S.P., (2022), "Development and applicability of Aluminium - Copper alloy electrodes for dairy wastewater treatment", Journal of Water Process Engineering, 48, 102915, https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4065596.
Reilly, M., Cooley, AP., Tito, D., Tassou, S.A., and Theodorou, M.K., (2019), "Electrocoagulation treatment of dairy processing and slaughterhouse wastewaters", Energy Procedia, 161, 343-351, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2019.02.106.
Saeed, O.F., Hameed, K.W., and Abbar, A.H., (2023), "Treatment of vegetable oil refinery wastewater by sequential electrocoagulation-electrooxidation process", Journal of Environmental Management, 342, 118362, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118362.
Taguchi, G., (1986), Introduction to quality engineering: Designing quality into products and processes, Asian Productivity Organizatin.
 TriGueros, D.E., Daniela E.G., Braunm, L., and Hinterholz, C.L., (2022), "Environmental and economic feasibility of the treatment of dairy industry wastewater by photo-Fenton and electrocoagulation process: Multicriteria optimization by desirability function", Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry, 427, 11382, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochem.2022.113820.
TriGueros, D.E., Daniela E.G., Braunm, L., and Hinterholz, C.L.,  (2023), "Optimal electrocoagulation as a post-treatment to photochemical oxidation: Minimal electrical energy consumption and lower acute toxicity of dairy wastewater", Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry, 437, 114496, https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4182784.
Valente, G.D.F.S., Mendonça, R.C.S., and Pereira, J.A.M., (2015), "The efficiency of electrocoagulation using aluminum electrodes in treating wastewater from a dairy industry", Ciência Rural, Santa Maria, 45(9), 1713-1719, https://doi.org/10.1590/0103- 8478cr20141172.
Venzke, C.D., Rodrigues, M.A.S., Giacobbo, A,  Bacher, L.E., Lemmertz, I.S., Viegas, Ch, Striving,  J., and Pozzebon, Sh., (2017), "Application of reverse osmosis to petrochemical industry wastewater treatment aimed at water reuse", Management of Environmental Quality An International Journal, 28(1), 70-77, https://doi.org/10.1108/MEQ-07-2015-0149.
Yip, J., Cheng, L., Meng, N.C., Phaik, P.E., Vieritz, A., Talei, A.,  and Chow, M.F., (2018), "Quantification of mains water savings from decentralised rainwater, greywater, and hybrid rainwater-greywater systems in tropical climatic conditions", Journal of Cleaner Production, 176(1), 946-958, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.12.020.
Yuliani, G., Mitasari, K., and Setiabudi, A., (2017), "The use of electrocoagulation technique for paper mill wastewater treatment", Materials Science Forum, 901, 149-153, https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/MSF.901.149, 2017.
Journal of Water and Wastewater Science and Engineering
Volume 10, Issue 4
Winter 2026
Pages 15-28

  • Receive Date 15 May 2025
  • Revise Date 05 August 2025
  • Accept Date 20 August 2025