Contamination reduction of vegetable oil refinery wastewater using innovative acid and basic chemical flotation processes

Abstract

Abstract Vegetable oil refineries produce a large amount of wastewater, creating several environmental problems that threaten aquatic life. These wastewaters present significant challenges for treatment techniques due to their high and complex pollution characteristics. This study presents the application of flotation processes in acid medium or basic medium of vegetable oil refinery wastewater to reduce turbidity, oil, grease, chemical oxygen demand (COD), and phosphorus total, polyphenols, nitrates, phenolic compounds measured at 254 nm and color. Application of acid flotation reduced turbidity (96.9%), COD (79%), nitrate (97.8%), total phosphorus (99.8%), polyphenol (86.6%), absorbance at 254 nm (90.8%), oil and grease (98.5%) and color (96.6%). However, the application of basic flotation showed a reduction in turbidity (25.7%), COD (37.5%), nitrates (91.6%), total phosphorus (88%), polyphenols (66.3%), absorbance at 254 nm (64.7%), oil and grease (68.8%) and color (73.9%). Therefore, this flotation process in an acidic or basic medium can be considered among the most effective processes for reducing wastewater pollution from vegetable oil refineries.