ANÁLISIS DE CICLO DE VIDA PARA LA SELECCIÓN DE ELECTRODOS EN LA ELECTROCOAGULACIÓN DE AGUAS RESIDUALES DE LA INDUSTRIA PAPELERA

Abstract

The electrocoagulation is an electrochemical technique of waste water treatment based on the generation of coagulant in situ. Sacrificial anodes of Iron or Aluminium are used to produce Fe3+ or Al3+, which act as coagulants of the organic matter present in the waste water. Electrocoagulation shows some advantages in front of conventional coagulation by addition of salts, such as the easier control of the dosage, no need to store chemicals and less production of sludge. However, the anode must be replaced as it is consumed. Electrocoagulation has exhibited high effectiveness in the treatment of waste water from the paper industry. Results of COD removal higher than 80% are obtained whereas phenols and colour are eliminated in more than 90%. The electrocoagulation technique uses Iron or Aluminium electrodes. Thus, in this work the methodology of Life Cycle Assessment is applied to select the most suitable electrode material to treat effluents from the paper industry. In this sense, some factors are taken into account such as the environmental impact of the electrode production, the consumption of materials or the electrical consumption of the treatment.