Estudo comparativo entre o método convencional e o da eletrofloculação aplicado no tratamento de águas residuais.

Abstract

The washing process is characterized by high water consumption and impacts caused by improper disposal of its effluents in rivers, dams and seas, which contain a diversity of compounds, so an efficient treatment system is of paramount importance to the sector. This study aimed to verify the efficiency and viability of the electroflocculation process (treatment by electrolytic cells) in the treatment of domestic effluent generated by washing clothes, in relation to the conventional method (physical, chemical and biological treatment). The studied effluent was collected from a washing machine that consumes on average 80 L of water per wash cycle (totaling 240 L), where the generated effluent is disposed of in the treatment system. First, preliminary analyzes of the effluent generated by the washing procedures were performed, in which high values were found in the following parameters: color, turbidity, pH and conductivity. Based on the reduction of the values of these parameters, the efficiency of the electrolytic process was evaluated. Next, four cells were constructed to treat the effluent (PE), which differed by the arrangement and total area of the plates. The effluent EF was used to compare the efficiency of the electrolytic process. The results showed that the electrolytic process obtained efficiency, with a reduction percentage of 93.8% for the color parameter, 94.5% for turbidity. With respect to operating cost, there was a reduction of up to 77% of expenditure compared to the conventional method. It is concluded that electrofloculation is a very viable methodology for the treatment of effluents resulting from the washing of clothes with regard to water recovery and reduction of operating cost.