Sequential use of coagulation and adsorption methods for COD removal from soft drink industry wastewater

Abstract

In this study, the effectiveness of sequentially applying coagulation and adsorption processes in treating soft drink industry wastewater was assessed based on COD removal. In the electrocoagulation method with iron electrodes, the highest COD removal occurred at 42%, achieved with a current of 9A and the natural pH of the wastewater at 5.51. In chemical coagulation, using FeCl3•6H2O as a coagulant, the highest removal rate of 23% was achieved at pH 5 with a coagulant dose of 2.5g/L. Activated carbon adsorption, in doses ranging from 10 to 40g/L, was applied to the effluents of both electrocoagulation and chemical coagulation at various contact times, up to 150 minutes, resulting in COD removal rates of 42% and 36%, respectively. According to the results, the COD removal efficiencies for the electrocoagulation-adsorption and chemical coagulation-adsorption systems were 66% and 51%, respectively. The findings of this study are important because they demonstrate the necessity of research on the use and development of physicochemical methods for the treatment of soft drink industry wastewater.