Inactivation of microbiota from urban wastewater by single and sequential electrocoagulation and electro-Fenton treatments

This work aims at comparing the ability of two kinds of electrochemical technologies, namely electrocoagulation (EC) and electro-Fenton (EF), to disinfect primary and secondary effluents from municipal wastewater treatment plants. Heterotrophic bacteria, Escherichia coli, enterococci, Clostridium perfringens spores, somatic coliphages and eukaryotes (amoebae, flagellates, ciliates and metazoa) were tested as indicator microorganisms. EC with an Fe/Fe cell at 200 A m−2 and natural pH allowed >5 log unit removal of E. coli and final concentration below 1 bacteria mL−1 of coliphages and eukaryotes from both effluents in ca. 60 min, whereas heterotrophic bacteria, enterococci and spores were more resistant. A larger removal was obtained for the primary effluent, probably because the flocs remove higher amount of total organic carbon (TOC), entrapping more easily the microbiota. EF with a boron-doped diamond (BDD) anode and an air-diffusion cathode that produces H2O2 on site was first performed at pH 3.0, with large or even total inactivation of microorganisms within 30 min. A more effective microorganism removal was attained as compared to EC thanks to •OH formed from Fenton's reaction. A quicker disinfection was observed for the secondary effluent owing to its lower TOC content, allowing the attack of greater quantities of electrogenerated oxidants on microorganisms. Wastewater disinfection by EF was also feasible at natural pH (∼7), showing similar abatement of active microorganisms as a result of the synergistic action of generated oxidants like active chlorine and coagulation with iron hydroxides. A sequential EC/EF treatment (30 min each) was more effective for a combined decontamination and disinfection of urban wastewater. •Electrodisinfection of primary and secondary effluents from municipal wastewater treatment plants.•EC (Fe/Fe cell) better for primary effluent, with total removal of coliphages, eukaryotes and E. coli.•EF (BDD/air, pH 3.0) better for secondary effluent, being heterotrophs and spores less affected.•EF (natural pH∼7.0) showed similar performance to that of EF at pH 3.0•Sequential EC (Fe/Fe, 30 min)/EF (BDD/air, pH∼7.0, 30 min) was the best disinfection treatment.