Energy consumption, operating cost and treatment of tea effluent using electrocoagulation

Abstract

The effluents from tea processing plants are characterized by a strong colour and high turbidity due to the presence of large amounts of suspended solids, dissolved organic matter and inorganic wastes which include detergents, grease/waste oil from machine parts. These altogether poses an environmental and legal challenge calling for appropriate means of treatment. In this regard the study was designed to evaluate energy consumption, operating cost in treatment of tea effluent using electrocoagulation method at optimum conditions of electrode distance 6 mm, electrolysis time 18 min, Current intensity 250 mA The study adopted an experimental research design. From the study findings Energy consumption was found to be 0.0018Kwh/m3 at an operating cost of US$ 0.004179032 /m^3at laboratory scale. The findings further showed that at industrial scale design parameters such as Diameter, height, electrode spacing, retention time, current intensity and reactor volume were 100 cm, 150 cm, 60 mm, 59.94 minutes, 25 Amps and 1.2 m3 respectively which equally reduces COD and Colour removal at 99.43 % and 98.62 with energy consumption of 4.8Kwh/m3 at an operating cost US$ 0.744. In conclusion EC provides the most feasible alternative for treatment of tea effluent with a view of COD reduction and colour removal.