Jasim, M., AlJaberi, F., Alardhi, S., Salman, A., Hathal, M., Cretescu, I., Vargas, A. (2025). Enhancing the removal of total dissolved solids from petroleum wastewater through electrocoagulation. , 43(3), 220-233. doi: 10.30684/etj.2025.157123.1893
Muhammad A. Jasim; Forat Yasir AlJaberi; Saja M. Alardhi; Ali D. Salman; Mustafa M. Hathal; Igor Cretescu; Armando R. Vargas. "Enhancing the removal of total dissolved solids from petroleum wastewater through electrocoagulation". , 43, 3, 2025, 220-233. doi: 10.30684/etj.2025.157123.1893
Jasim, M., AlJaberi, F., Alardhi, S., Salman, A., Hathal, M., Cretescu, I., Vargas, A. (2025). 'Enhancing the removal of total dissolved solids from petroleum wastewater through electrocoagulation', , 43(3), pp. 220-233. doi: 10.30684/etj.2025.157123.1893
Jasim, M., AlJaberi, F., Alardhi, S., Salman, A., Hathal, M., Cretescu, I., Vargas, A. Enhancing the removal of total dissolved solids from petroleum wastewater through electrocoagulation. , 2025; 43(3): 220-233. doi: 10.30684/etj.2025.157123.1893

Enhancing the removal of total dissolved solids from petroleum wastewater through electrocoagulation

Engineering and Technology Journal
Volume 43, Issue 3, March 2025, Pages 220-233    PDF (725.44 K)
Document Type: Research Paper
DOI: 10.30684/etj.2025.157123.1893
Authors
Muhammad A. Jasim1; Forat Yasir AlJaberi* 2; Saja M. Alardhi* 3; Ali D. Salman4; Mustafa M. Hathal5; Igor Cretescu6; Armando R. Vargas7
1Samawa Refinery Department, Board of Production, Midland Refineries Company, Ministry of Oil, Al-Muthanna, Iraq.
2Chemical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, Al-Muthanna University, Al-Muthanna, Iraq. College of Engineering, Al-Ayen University, Thi-Qar, Iraq.
3Nanotechnology and Advanced Material Research Center, University of Technology, Iraq.
4Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Baghdad, Aljadria, Baghdad, Iraq.
5Sustainability Solutions Research Lab, Faculty of Engineering, University of Pannonia,gyetem Str. 10, Veszprém H 8200, Hungary.
6Department of Environmental Engineering and Management, Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iasi, Romania.
7Industrial Engineering Department, Universidad of Holguín, Cuba.
Abstract
This study aims to employ an electrocoagulation reactor to treat petroleum effluent from a local plant and reduce dissolved solids (TDS) to suitable levels for reuse. A continuous reactor configuration featured a finned stainless steel cathode tube positioned between two cylindrical aluminum anodes. This study explored the influence of treatment duration (4–60 minutes), current density (0–6.0 mA.cm-2), and influent rate (50–150 ml/min) on the final TDS value. Flow rate increase correlated with increased final TDS values, while longer electrolysis durations and higher current densities led to decreased TDS levels. Optimized electrolysis conditions at 1 hour, 5 mA.cm-2, and 50 ml/min, with inner and outer anode consumptions of 0.18 g and 0.45 g, respectively, achieved a final TDS of 2000.45 mg/l, representing a reduction of 207.55 mg/l. The regression model, with a p-value of 0.0001, F-value of 219.37, and R2 of 99.75%, demonstrated the significance of the model components, indicating its robustness. The energy consumption was 3.65 kWh/m3, and the total operating cost was only 0.74 $ per m3. This study confirms the efficacy of the novel continuous reactor in managing petroleum wastewater under practical conditions with low consumption values of electrodes and electrical energy.

Highlights
  • Aluminum ions release from the anode faster than hydroxyl ions from the cathode.
  • An innovative reactor from a local factory is used to reduce TDS in petroleum effluent.
  • Box-Behnken Design and Minitab optimized experimental design, analysis, and variables.
  • longer electrolysis durations and higher current densities led to decreased TDS levels.
Keywords
Petroleum effluent; Total dissolved solids; Electrocoagulation process; Electrodes consumption; Finned cathode tube
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