Electrocoagulation for Microplastic Removal: Quantification, Electrode Consumption, and Sludge Production

Valdiviezo-Gonzales L.; Garcia L.O.; Diaz I.N.; De-La-Torre G.; García Avila F. · Proceedings of the LACCEI international Multi-conference for Engineering, Education and Technology (2026) · DOI: 10.18687/laccei2026.1.1.555

Resumen

The presence of microplastics (MPs) in liquid effluents has drawn increasing scientific concern owing to their ecological impacts and the limited efficacy of conventional treatment technologies. Electrocoagulation (EC) has emerged as a promising alternative for MPs removal; however, few studies have addressed three practical aspects critical to scale-up: MPs quantification, electrode consumption, and sludge generation. This study evaluates (i) the effectiveness of a mass-versus-turbidity approach for MPs quantification, (ii) iron (Fe) electrode wear, and (iii) the concentration of EC-generated sludge. A synthetic effluent containing graded doses of polyester was treated in a previously optimized EC system using a 15-run experimental design with replication. The turbidity-based calibration showed an excellent linear relationship with MPs mass (R2 = 0.997), supporting turbidity as a reliable surrogate for MPs concentration. Under optimal operating conditions, Fe electrode consumption was 0.122 kg m-3, and sludge production was 3.1 kg m-3. These results provide actionable metrics for process design and cost estimation. Future work should include comprehensive physicochemical and toxicological characterization of the generated sludge to inform valorization and potential reuse pathways.

Instituciones: Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola; Universidad Tecnológica del Perú