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Modeling and Optimization of Coagulation-Flocculation Process to Remove High Phosphate Concentration in Wastewater from a Metal-Mechanic Industry

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Abstract

In this work, the performance of an empirical coagulation-flocculation plant to treat wastewater from a metal-mechanic industry located in an industrial park of Queretaro city, México, is studied. Wastewater samples were obtained from the homogenization tank and treated with the employed industrial reactants through an experimental jar test to obtain statistical data. Then, a response surface methodology with ANOVA analysis was used to model the process, and the ε-constraints methodology was used to optimize the coagulation-flocculation process in terms of economic and environmental impact. The results showed an improvement of phosphates removal, but a minimal increment of 1.01% of operational costs regarding to the current operating conditions. Additionally, the results offered a certain reference value for practical application of the coagulation-flocculation process using calcium hydroxide, aluminum salts, and polyacrylamide/urea for the main removal of phosphates in real effluents.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to Universidad de Guanajuato for facilities to develop this work and to the company for the information and wastewater samples. Also, Carlos Gómez Rodríguez is grateful to CONACyT for the scholarship granted for his Master’s degree studies.

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  1. Departamento de Ingeniería Química, División de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Campus Guanajuato, Universidad de Guanajuato, Noria Alta S/N, Col. Noria Alta, Guanajuato, Guanajuato, C.P. 36050, México

    Carlos Gómez-Rodríguez, Fernando Israel Gómez-Castro, Zeferino Gamiño-Arroyo & Tzayam Pérez

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  1. Carlos Gómez-Rodríguez
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  2. Fernando Israel Gómez-Castro
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  3. Zeferino Gamiño-Arroyo
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Contributions

C.G.-R. performed the experiments and wrote the first version of the manuscript. T.P. and F.G.-C. implemented the experiments and the mathematical modelling. Z.G.-A. provided chemicals and laboratory equipment. T.P. wrote the final version of the manuscript. All authors reviewed the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Tzayam Pérez.

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Gómez-Rodríguez, C., Gómez-Castro, F.I., Gamiño-Arroyo, Z. et al. Modeling and Optimization of Coagulation-Flocculation Process to Remove High Phosphate Concentration in Wastewater from a Metal-Mechanic Industry. Environ Model Assess (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10666-024-09967-9

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