Effectiveness of Electrocoagulation in the Treatment of Agricultural Wastewater from the Coffee Industry in the Peruvian Amazon

Marina D.C.; Guerrero Escobedo A.E.; Azabache Liza Y.F.; Rodriguez Espinoza R.F.; Vargas Vásquez L.M.; Ayala Díaz M.A. · Chemical Engineering Transactions (2025) · DOI: 10.3303/cet25120102

Resumen

The research evaluated the electrocoagulation treatment for the removal of organic matter in agricultural wastewater from coffee processing. The study was conducted over a period of one and a half months at a traditional coffee pulping and washing plant, with weekly sampling (six times in total), using labeled containers and a portable refrigerator. The reactor was batch type (3L) constructed in glass and 6 consecutive weekly sampling events of the wastewater were carried out. Nine treatments were tested, varying the electric current intensity (1.0, 2.5, and 4.0 A) and removal times (15, 30, and 45 min), using aluminum and iron electrodes. The best results were obtained with a treatment of 4.0 A and 45 min of removal time, using aluminum electrodes, achieving average values of 93.99% removal of BOD5, 87.78% removal of COD, and 96.82% removal of TSS. These results met the requirements of current environmental regulations, such as Maximum Permissible Limit (MPL) and Environmental Quality Standard (EQS). It was concluded that the use of aluminum electrodes under optimal conditions is the best alternative for reducing organic parameter concentrations in coffee processing wastewater, contributing to improved environmental quality. Copyright

Instituciones: Universidad Nacional de Trujillo; Universidad Autónoma del Perú; Universidad Nacional de San Martín