Experimental study on oil removal performance and anodic dissolution characteristics during the treatment of marine oil spills using electrocoagulation

Abstract

As global demand for oil increases, offshore extraction and transportation activities have become more frequent, leading to a rise in marine oil spill incidents that threaten marine ecosystems. Electrocoagulation technology, known for its efficiency and environmental friendliness, holds potential in treating collected oil-water mixtures during oil spill emergency responses, particularly in controlled environments where the oil has been contained. This study systematically evaluates the oil removal performance and anodic dissolution characteristics of electrocoagulation technology for purifying marine oil spills. The experimental operating parameters ranged from 0.5 A to 1.5 A current, 1.2 L·h−1 to 3.6 L·h−1 flow rate, and 1 cm to 2 cm interelectrode distance. The results indicate that under relatively better operating conditions of 1.0 A current, 1.2 L·h−1 flow rate, and 1 cm interelectrode distance, the oil removal efficiency reaches 90.48 %. The anode dissolution rate is unevenly distributed, with the fastest dissolution occurring in the anode g region, and the dissolution rate increases with the current. Increasing the current inhibits the formation of average pitting depth and expansion of pitting on the anode. This study provides critical data and theoretical support for optimizing the application of electrocoagulation technology for marine oil spill treatment.