Electro-oxycoagulation Efficiency for the Treatment of Domestic Effluents

Abstract

Although environment protection efforts worldwide, the chemistry and biological contamination of waters represents an important challenge to be overcome, especially regarding its contamination by domestic wastewater effluents. In this context, this research presented an analysis by using an innovative wastewater treatment system for domestic effluents based on the electro-oxycoagulation approach implanted in wastewater treatment station located at Palma Sola, Santa Catarina, Brazil. We evaluated samples from domestic effluent (before and after treatment), fountain water, and river water collected from the municipality water system, as well as investigated the residual compound yielded by wastewater treatment. In these samples, we performed physicochemical analysis, investigation of viable helminth eggs, and toxicity and microbiological measurements before and after the treatment. Further, the levels of contaminant metals by X-ray fluorescence-based technique were analyzed. Results show an improvement in the quality of treated water, as demonstrated by microbiological, physicochemical, toxicity, and metal analysis of effluent after treatment. After treatment, river water and fountain water levels of metals in accordance with the maximum limits allowed by Brazilian regulatory agencies. Analysis of residual compound indicated that the workers that handle the residue were not contaminated with the identified metals. Thus, the electro-oxycoagulation-based method demonstrated high efficiency for the treatment of domestic effluents and further prevents contamination of the rivers by the released effluent without treatment.