THE APPLICATION OF LEAD DIOXIDE-COATED TITANIUM ANODE IN THE ELECTROFLOTATION OF PALM OIL MILL EFFLUENT

The electroflotation of palm oil mill effluent (POME) using lead dioxide-coated titanium anode on a laboratory scale was described. The anode was found to be corrosion-resistant under the conditions of the experiment. The feasibility of the process was determined by monitoring the effluent quality as a function of electrolysis time. Simultaneous flotation of suspended particles and anodic destruction of soluble substances in POME were observed. About 40% of the COD of the dissolved substances of POME could be anodically destroyed together with 86% of suspended particles, made up of mainly plant cell debris, floated off. It is envisaged the electroflotation process could form the first stage of a treatment system with aerobic or physicochemical process as secondary treatment step.