Synergy between Electrocoagulation (EC) and Magnetic Separation for the Treatment of Oily Wastewater

Produced water, a byproduct of oil extraction, contains highly emulsified oils that offer serious environmental risks if discharged untreated. Efficient treatment of such oily wastewater is crucial for sustainability in oil-producing industries facing the upcoming challenges of offshore scale production. Therefore, the novelty of this research lies in its application of cobalt ferrite to the electrocoagulation (EC) process, where it not only aids in oil and turbidity removal but also increases electrode stability through electrophoretic deposition. Experimental results reveal that the ferrite-enhanced EC achieves high removal efficiencies, reaching 94% for oil and 98 ± 2% for turbidity under the tested operating conditions. Moreover, cobalt ferrite integration allowed for stable pH and low energy consumption (3.5–5.5 kWh·m–3), demonstrating the cost-effectiveness of treatment. These findings highlight cobalt ferrite-enhanced EC as a promising technology for managing oily wastewater, offering a viable solution for industrial applications demanding compact and efficient wastewater treatment.