Effect of Electrohydraulic Pulse Treatment on the Reduction of Organic Pollutants and Analytical Signals of Heavy Metals in Wastewater

Abstract

This study investigates the effect of electrohydraulic pulse treatment on changes in the physicochemical parameters of wastewater and the analytical signals of heavy metals. The relevance of the study is determined by the need to develop reagent-free methods for the advanced treatment of industrial and municipal-industrial wastewater containing organic pollutants and trace metal impurities. The treatment was carried out in a laboratory high-voltage cell with an interelectrode discharge in an aqueous medium. Wastewater from the pumping station of JSC “Qarmet” in Temirtau was used as the study object. Heavy metals were determined by stripping voltammetry, while changes in the chemical parameters were assessed based on COD, BOD₅, pH, ammonium nitrogen, phenols, petroleum products, total iron, and chromium content. After treatment, COD decreased from 95.9 to 69.0 mg/dm³, corresponding to a reduction of 28.1%. The BOD₅/COD ratio increased from 0.095 to 0.155, indicating an improvement in the biodegradability of the organic compounds. The analytical signals of Zn, Cd, Pb, and Cu decreased by 82.7–100%. The obtained results demonstrate the potential of electrohydraulic pulse treatment as a pretreatment or advanced treatment stage for complex wastewater.