Treatment of Cutting Oil Emulsion by Electrocoagulation with Iron Electrodes

The objective of this work was to show the interest of the electrocoagulation (EC) process as an approach for the treatment of a cutting oil emulsion. The breakdown of an Algerian cutting oil emulsion (Tasfalout 22/B) at 4% (p/p) by electrocoagulation in batch, using iron electrodes, was studied. The efficiency of the process was estimated from turbidity and oxygen chemical demand (COD) measurements. The effect of the operating conditions, such as the distance between electrodes, the pH of the solution and the electrical conductivity, on the removal efficiency has been studied. The effect of the electrical conductivity on the removal efficiency and the power consumption has been studied for two pH values. The results of the electrocoagulation treatment under various operating conditions showed that the optimal efficiency was obtained after 15 minutes of electrolysis, a current density of 200 A/m super(2), an electrical conductivity of 81 mS/cm, a pH 2 and a distance between electrodes of 1 cm. In these conditions, the removal efficiency of the turbidity and the DCO was 98% and 72%, respectively, with a power consumption of 0.54 KWh/m super(3).Original Abstract: L'objectif de ce travail est de de montrer l'interet du precede d'electrocoagulation (EC) pour le traitement d'une emulsion d'huile de coupe. L'etude a porte sur la destabilisation d'une emulsion d'huile de coupe Algerienne (Tasfalout 22/B) a 4% (p/p) par EC en batch, en utilisant des electrodes de fer. Le rendement du procede est evalue par la mesure de la turbidite et de la demande chimique en oxygene (DCO). L'effet de la distance inter-electrodes, du pH de la solution et de la conductivite sur le rendement d'elimination a ete etudie. L'effet de la conductivite electrique sur le rendement d'elimination et la puissance consommee ont ete etudies pour deux valeurs de pH. L'evolution des parametres operatoires au cours de l'EC montre que le rendement optimal est obtenu pour un temps d'electrocoagulation de 15 min, une densite de courant de 200 A/m super(2), une conductivite de 81 mS/cm, un pH 2 et une distance inter-electrodes de 1 cm. Dans ces conditions, le rendement d'elimination de la turbidite et de la DCO est respectivement de 98% et de 72%.