Phosphate, TDS and BOD removal from industrial wastewater using combined sono-pulsed-electrochemical oxidation: optimization by response surface methodology

Abstract Industrial sectors use high volumes of water and produce huge quantities of wastewater that are full of many types of pollutants, such as phosphates, total dissolved solids (TDS), and those that involve biological oxygen demand (BOD). In this study, the integrated sonolysis and pulsed electrochemical oxidation (S-PEO) process for treating industrial wastewater was examined, with a focus on maximizing pollutant removal and reducing energy usage. Optimal conditions for maximal treatment efficiency were determined by methodically varying key operational parameters, including initial pH, electrolysis time, and current. The results showed that, when the S-PEO process was run at optimal circumstances (pH of 7, electrolysis period of 40 min, and current of 0.5 Amp), it was produced remarkable removal efficiencies. With a low power consumption of 0.19 kWh/m 3 , the removal efficiencies for phosphates, TDS, and BOD were about 98.70 %, 97.44 %, and 95.49 %, respectively. To assess and optimize the process parameters, a methodical approach utilizing response surface methodology (RSM) and central composite design (CCD) was utilized. At a 95 % confidence level, statistical validation using analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that the independent variables and their interactions had a meaningful impact. Additionally, the study used a quadratic regression model to estimate power consumption and pollutant removal efficiencies with accuracy. The model’s dependability is confirmed by the high value 0.91 of the correlation coefficient. These results emphasize the S-PEO process’s potential as an efficient and environmentally friendly method of treating industrial wastewater.