Electro-Oxidation of Biofloc Aquaculture Effluent Through a DoE-Driven Optimization in a Batch Reactor

In this study, wastewater generated from tilapia biofloc aquaculture was treated using the electro-oxidation (EO) process in a batch reactor. Optimal reaction conditions were determined through a robust screening design based on a Taguchi L9 (34) orthogonal array. The evaluated parameters included three anode–cathode configurations—boron-doped diamond with titanium (BDD–Ti), BDD with copper (BDD–Cu), and BDD with BDD—as well as current intensity (1–2 A), initial pH (5.5–11.5), and treatment time (2.5–3.5 h). The EO process exhibited high removal efficiencies for key water quality indicators. Under optimal conditions (BDD–Ti, i = 2 A, t = 3.5 h, pH0 = 11.5), removal efficiencies of 96.57% for chemical oxygen demand (COD), 99.06% for total ammoniacal nitrogen (TAN), 67.68% for turbidity, and 81.09% for total organic carbon (TOC) were obtained. Phytotoxicity and bioassay tests further confirmed the detoxification potential of the treated effluent. Overall, the proposed green treatment approach demonstrates that EO is a viable and sustainable strategy for improving effluent quality and advancing water management in intensive aquaculture systems.