Reduction of pollutants in brine effluent using electrocoagulation

Brine effluent generated from industrial processes contains high levels of suspended solids, organic pollutants, and heavy metals, posing significant environmental and health risks if discharged untreated. Conventional treatment methods are often costly and ineffective in handling high salinity content. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of electrocoagulation using aluminium electrodes in removing key pollutants such as suspended solids (turbidity), organic load (COD), pH, and heavy metals (aluminium and zinc) from brine effluent. The electrocoagulation process was conducted in a batch setup with varying treatment durations (30 to 150 minutes). Water quality parameters were measured before and after treatment, and the results were analyzed using one-way ANOVA to determine statistical significance. The results showed a significant improvement in water quality: pH increased from 5.11 to 7.41, COD decreased from 26 mg/L to 2 mg/L, and turbidity increased initially due to floc formation but was managed through settling. Aluminium concentration dropped from 0.380 mg/L to 0.019 mg/L, while zinc reduced from 0.33 mg/L to 0.26 mg/L. The ANOVA analysis verified that all parameters show statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) throughout treatment durations. These results suggest that electrocoagulation is environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and efficient for treating brine wastewater. This innovation outcome is to promote sustainable wastewater management practices and offer a practical solution for industries that attempt to comply with environmental discharge standards.