Diseño de una planta de tratamiento de aguas de formación por electrocoagulación.

Abstract

The objective of the work was to understand the electrocoagulation process for the treatment of wastewater, specifically for formation water from the Lago Agrio Norte oil field through electrochemistry, which is a simple and economical method.

We worked with an adapted test team based on previously reviewed and analyzed bibliographic information with the ingenuity of the tutor teacher. The equipment constitutes an electrolytic cell with a capacity of twelve liters, iron and aluminum electrodes, connection lizards, voltage variator and residual water. That, by coupling each of the cell components as such, the experimental part was carried out, alternating the sacrificial anode to observe the result that would be obtained in each situation.

Within the experimental phase there are two important variables that help to understand the electrochemical process, and that are time variation and voltage variation; since with these you can determine a time and a voltage in which the result will be easily compared with the rest of the tests. The development of the proposal for this work involved the construction of an electrocoagulation test system and its subsequent adjustment to a continuous treatment process. The experimental process allowed the use of several types of electrodes taking into account the different distances between them, varying the flow of current density.

The system in general required a stage of treatment and prior conditioning of the water to be treated, followed by the process of electrocoagulation, sedimentation, separation of the flocs generated and the consequent generation of the flow line towards a storage stage of the treated water.

In addition, tests to determine the quality of the treated water, since it is expected that it can be used in reinjection processes in wells that need it. The tests carried out were COD, total iron, total solids, pH, conductivity, total hardness and chlorides, which will allow a better understanding of the result obtained with said electrocoagulation treatment.