Removal of petroleum hydrocarbons from oil effluents by electrocoagulation method (a case study: oil effluent from oil catchment of Kharg Oil Terminal)

Water pollution by petroleum compounds is one of the most environmental challenges in oil-rich countries as it can have unsuitable effects on human health and the environment. Application of an efficient method for treating wastewaters containing oil materials is of great importance. Thus, this study investigated the using of the electrocoagulation for treating oil effluents for the first time.
First, the effluent of the oil catchment of Kharg was sampled over 30 days. Then, the concentrations of total petroleum of hydrocarbons (TPHs) were compared before and after the treatment by the electrocoagulation method. Also, the optimum values of influencing parameters including solution pH, current density, contact and aeration time, electrode type, hydraulic detention time and distance of electrodes were reported.
The highest removal of TPHs (94%) was attained at the following conditions: Fe-Fe electrodes, contact time of 30 min in the presence of aeration, 1.5 Cm of electrode distance and current density of 20 mA Cm-2.
It was found that the electrocoagulation method can be applied as a suitable way for treating effluents containing petroleum compounds.