Avaliação da eletro-oxidação, utilizando eletrodos de grafite, no tratamento de efluentes de um abatedouro e frigorífico de aves

Abstract

The growth of poultry production in Brazil has intensified the generation of industrial effluents, requiring more effective treatment methods. Electro-oxidation emerges as a promising alternative for the removal of COD, turbidity, and color from these wastes. This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of electro-oxidation using graphite electrodes in the treatment of effluents from a poultry slaughterhouse and processing plant. The removal efficiencies of turbidity, color, and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were analyzed through a fractional factorial experimental design 2⁴⁻¹, considering current intensity, electrolysis time, pH, and electrode spacing as variables. The best results were obtained with a current of 1 A, pH 5, and 30 minutes of electrolysis, achieving 78.5% turbidity removal, 90.6% color removal, and 39% COD removal. Analysis of variance indicated that, for COD, pH and current intensity were statistically significant factors (p < 0.10), with a coefficient of determination (R²) of 71.79%, demonstrating their relevant influence on the process. For turbidity and color, the analyzed factors did not show isolated statistical significance. The results demonstrate that electro-oxidation is a promising alternative for the treatment of industrial effluents with high organic load, but it requires strict control of operational conditions to ensure its efficiency. The study highlights the need for further optimization and complementary research, especially focused on system stability and electrode durability.